Baldock: UF moves for 75% majority to protect foreshore and seabed

United Future’s Larry Baldock this morning tabled an amendment to the Foreshore and Seabed Bill that would require a 75 percent majority in any future Parliament rather than a simple majority for the Crown to dispose of any part foreshore and seabed.

“One of the hugest concerns that came up time after time from submitters, both Maori and Pakeha, was the sense that any future government with a simple majority, might be tempted to sell off the foreshore to the highest bidder.

“In fact many Maori submitters maintained their real interest in gaining ownership of the foreshore and seabed was primarily to prevent any future alienation.

“This Supplementary Order Paper is about addressing that concern.

“The way the Bill stands, a simple majority is all it would take for land to be alienated,” Mr Baldock said.

“Both the Government, and especially NZ First should back this, given their stated views on protecting the family jewels, as it were,” he said.

Mr Baldock said the United Future position was utterly consistent with its earlier call for an interim select committee report on the Bill - a move that was defeated in the select committee.

“Our position has been largely about respecting the views of the public, rather than paying lip-service to them and rushing through legislation for political expediency,” he said.

“This SOP will be one further step in ensuring that the public foreshore and seabed is kept for the benefit of all New Zealanders both now and into the future.”

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