National Will Be High And Dry On The Foreshore

ACT New Zealand Maori Affairs Spokesman Hilary Calvert today predicted that the Maori Party would soon realise that it cannot support the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill, and that the National Government would soon find itself left high and dry on the foreshore.

“Maori Party Co-Leader Pita Sharples has indicated that Maori submissions on this Bill will be considered before the Maori Party pledged its support – and it is already clear that iwi and hapu throughout the country oppose this Bill,” Ms Calvert said.

“In little over a week, the Maori Affairs Select Committee has received 77 submissions from Maori on this Bill – not one has been in support of the Bill without amendment.

“Among those who have voiced their opposition to the Bill during this entire debate are the Iwi Leaders Group, Ngai Tahu, Te Atiawa, Ngati Tama, and the Wellington-based Te Upoko o te Ika branch of the Maori Party.

“This opposition to the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill will be echoed by iwi and hapu throughout New Zealand and the Maori Party will – quite rightly – listen to the voices of its supporters and pull its support

“The writing is on the wall: National won’t have the support to pass this Bill and should scrap it. The best course of action is to simply repeal the Foreshore and Seabed Act and restore the right of iwi and hapu to have their claims heard in court,” Ms Calvert said.

ENDS

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