22 December 2010
Media release

Coastal Coalition steps up campaign against National’s divisive bill

The Coastal Coalition is stepping up its public information campaign against the government’s racist Marine and Coastal Area Bill by installing more Iwi/Kiwi Billboards throughout the country. The most recent Iwi-Kiwi billboards are in Napier, at Hyderabad roundabout, and in Christchurch at the Linwood Avenue & Aldwins Road intersection.

Further sites are planned in Hastings and Tauranga for early January 2011.

Coastal Coalition spokesman, Dr Hugh Barr said “There is a huge groundswell of opposition from ordinary New Zealanders against the government’s divisive Bill. Public submissions to the initial April 2010 consultation showed that 91 percent of respondents were opposed to the proposed Bill. More recently, submissions to the Maori Affairs Select Committee have shown the same overwhelming rejection of the Bill by the public.

“No-one wants this Bill.

“The reality is that the Bill has been hijacked by the Maori sovereignty movement which wants the resources of the coast – which belong to all New Zealanders equally - to be carved up and given to them alone. It is the biggest attempted resource grab in New Zealand history – and, unbelievably, the National Party is orchestrating it.

“John Key gave his word that repeal of Crown ownership of the foreshore and seabed would not go ahead if the public were not behind it. With public opposition to the Bill growing daily - and political opposition too, with the Labour Party now withdrawing its support to join ACT and the Green Party in opposing it - the Prime Minister must honour his promise and withdraw the Bill,” Dr Barr said.

ENDS

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