Government Fudges and Stalls over Foreshore and Seabed

Tariana Turia, Co-leader Maori Party

15 February 2006

Government takes fourteen months to write a letter The Maori Party today laid claims in Parliament that the Crown Law Office had taken over a year to respond to a complaint regarding the Foreshore and Seabed Act.

"It's ironic that this Government is always talking about working smarter, and yet its own officials can't make the time to answer mail" said Mrs Turia, Co-leader of the Maori Party.

The Crown Law Office Annual report ending 30 June 2005 noted that client satisfaction in the performance of Crown Law had decreased seven percentage points since June 2004.

"Today in Parliament I asked the Attorney-General why I had not yet received a response to my letter of 14 April 2005" said Mrs Turia.

"The letter I received in November advised me that the "response was now well advanced and I hope to have it to you within the next two to three weeks".

"Two to three months later I received another excuse about 'competing work priorities".

"Hone Harawira, Member of Parliament for Te Tai Tokerau, also brought to the attention of the House a complaint laid eight months ago by Peter Tashkoff of Auckland, and another complaint laid fourteen months ago on 17 December 2004".

"New Zealanders must wonder why we have an Attorney-General or a Crown Law office if they can't do their job properly" said Mrs Turia.

"Or is this part of a bigger embarrassment for the Government about a disastrous piece of legislation that should never have seen the light of day?"

ENDS

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