More backstroke from Clark on beaches issue

National Party Leader Bill English says the Government's line in the sand over the beaches and seabed issue is becoming more blurred by the day.

"Labour is headed back to the partnership model for ownership and regulation of the beaches and foreshore, with emerging talk of co-management and 'Kaitiaki' or guardianship.

"It's now clear that Helen Clark is retreating further up the beach, after just two of the 11 hui," Mr English told a public meeting at Orewa today.

"Today she is 'quite optimistic about there being moves in train which will greatly strengthen the position of Maori in these processes'.

"This follows Margaret Wilson's statement last week that the Government was interested in taking a stronger co-management perspective while Labour's hard man Trevor Mallard got in on the act signalling room to negotiate on the principles laid down just three weeks ago.

"Helen Clark is now singing two different tunes, one to Maori and the other to mainstream media," says Mr English.

"It's yet another example of this Government saying one thing to the wider public and something quite different to Maori.

"Helen Clark backed down from her initial promise to confirm Crown title to the beaches and seabed and now she's talking about a further erosion of the Government position," says Mr English.

"National believes that the only way to end the uncertainty is to confirm Crown ownership.

"Anything less will fuel uncertainty and lead to the creation of a whole new industry based on Treaty grievances," says Mr English.

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