Labour's Fishy Proposal Will Sink Race Relations
Friday 11 Jun 2004 Gerry Eckhoff Press Releases -- Other
ACT New Zealand Fisheries Spokesman Gerry Eckhoff today predicted that a Government proposal to give Maori catch rights
to fish caught in international waters would have a detrimental effect on race relations in New Zealand, and achieve
nothing more than to wrongfully alienate Maori from the rest of the country.
"Last month, I revealed that Fisheries Minister David Benson-Pope was proposing to use the Fisheries Amendment Bill to
give 20 percent of fish caught outside New Zealand's territorial waters to Maori - despite most Maori not requesting
this," Mr Eckhoff said.
"Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission chair Shane Jones is grasping at straws to suggest that Maori are entitled to
this quota allocation. The reality is that Maori have no ancestral, historical or traditional connection with these
waters.
"Mr Benson-Pope's proposal is neither fair, nor justified. This sort of nonsense runs the risk of tainting the Treaty
claims process. It will create an inaccurate public perception that it is corrupt, and that all Maori are greedy.
Legitimate Treaty claims will be tarred with the same brush.
"Labour, in its misguided attempt to buy Maori votes, is making victims of all New Zealanders - both Maori and
non-Maori alike. This proposal is another step in the wrong direction for race relations in this country," Mr Eckhoff
said.
ENDS
For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at
act@parliament.govt.nz.