“Te Mangoroa encourage overseas countries to introduce sporting and trade sanctions against New Zealand”

A New Zealand based organisation known as “Te Mangoroa” are encouraging overseas countries to introduce sporting and trade sanctions against the New Zealand Government until they repeal the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004. The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination released a damming report regarding the foreshore and seabed debacle that occurred last year. They found in favour of the Maori claimants, adjudicating that the Act discriminates against Maori by extinguishing the chance for Maori to have customary title granted over the foreshore and seabed, as well as the Act containing no provisions for any redress.

“We encourage every sporting body, trade organisation and government to impose sanctions against the New Zealand Government”, stated Te Mangoroa Co-Spokesperson, Malcolm Mulholland. “The United Nations is an international body. Thus any findings they conclude should be adhered to. Unfortunately the New Zealand Government thinks that it is exempt from listening to the United Nations. If countries truly believe in what the UN does, then impose the sanctions”, states Mulholland.

Co-Spokesperson Whetu Moataane refers people’s attention to comments made by Judge Heta Hingston last year regarding the issue. Hingston likened the Government's foreshore legislation to the actions of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe for interfering in the judicial process and backing land confiscations without compensation. “Other countries and organisations have forced various sanctions against Zimbabwe based on their poor race relations record. Comparisons are easily made between the Zimbabwe and New Zealand Governments when highlighting the foreshore and seabed issue. The international community should set the same standard for all countries regarding race relations. Any claims made by the New Zealand Government that the legislation protects Maori rights is a blatant lie”, stated Moataane.

“This press release will be distributed far and wide – to many sporting and trade organisations, major media establishments as well as governments, right across the globe. The New Zealand Government need to realise the effects that this legislation will have on the Maori community. Maori people find themselves trapped within the lower socio-economic bracket due to historical grievances being committed against them. They have no economic base from which to work from. It can be convincingly argued that the New Zealand Government are recreating that vicious cycle by passing law that takes away Maori rights to the foreshore and seabed”, states Mulholland.

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