Media Release 30 May 2010
Coastal Coalition
www.CoastalCoalition.co.nz

Too much Secrecy over Government’s Plan to Privatise the Foreshore and Seabed

“There is too much secrecy over the government’s plan to privatise the foreshore and seabed”, Dr Hugh Barr of the Coastal Coalition says. The Coalition is a newly formed network of concerned citizens who believe the foreshore and seabed should remain in Crown ownership for the benefit of all New Zealanders.

“In comparison to the proposal to mine 7,000 hectares of Department of Conservation land, which everyone knows about, we are finding that the public is largely unaware that the Government intends to repeal Crown ownership of over 10 million ha of the foreshore and seabed. This includes all of the seabed out to 22 km from shore. It is over 1000 times larger than the Schedule 4 areas proposed for mining, and is larger than one third of New Zealand’s ‘dry’ land area.

“Instead, the Government intends to place most crucial coastal activities - including mining, aquaculture and development - in Maori control. This was not part of National’s 2008 election manifesto. It is new policy that has come about through lobbying by the Maori Party. So it needs detailed discussion with the public”, Dr Barr said.

The Coastal Coalition has set up a website at www.CoastalCoalition.co.nz where people can go to register their interest and find out more. Compared to mining in the Coromandel or the Paparoa National Park, National’s foreshore and seabed proposal will have a major adverse impact on coastal users in all regions of New Zealand - as can be seen from the maps* found on the website here>>>.

“It is clear that National is hoping that their plan to effectively privatise the foreshore and seabed can be rushed through Parliament without the public really understanding what’s going on”, Dr Barr said.

“The government quietly released their sham review just before Easter leaving only 20 working days for people to find out about their radical proposals and make a submission. Our attempts to extend the timeframe fell on deaf ears with a petition to the Prime Minister and Attorney General calling for an extension of time, which was supported by over 5,000 citizens concerned at the unjustified haste, being ignored. In contrast the mining review was readily granted an extension of 16 working days.

“When we talk to individuals and organisations around the country about the government’s proposals almost no-one is aware that they planning to effectively privatise foreshore and seabed rights and resources in favour of Maori interests. The government clearly wants the public to remain in the dark until after the law is passed. But in a democracy, secrecy over an issue of such constitutional significance is completely unacceptable.

“It should be the responsibility of this government to properly inform the public. We know that the National Party is keen on privatising state assets, but repealing Crown ownership of the foreshore and seabed so they can privatise it in favour of Maori interests is a massive step too far”, Dr Barr said.

ends

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