Don Brash MP National Party Leader

19 April 2005

Beach ownership on Ngati Porou agenda

National Party Leader Don Brash is expecting more Maori to follow Ngati Porou’s lead and start direct negotiations with Labour over the ownership of our coast.

“This is just what National warned of when Labour passed its sham foreshore and seabed legislation.

“Right through the process, Labour MPs were telling Maori that they would still be able to claim ownership of our coast, by negotiating directly with the Crown.”

Dr Brash is commenting on a row that has erupted after news broke that Ngati Porou is secretly negotiating ownership of the entire East Coast coastline.

Ngati Porou’s website says: ‘Since the signing of the Terms of Negotiation between Ngati Porou and the Crown last year negotiations have got underway proper. We are working towards a heads of agreement which recognises the ownership interests that Ngati Porou whanau and hapu hold. The aim is to have this heads of agreement completed by the end of June this year. (2005)’

“Labour has been busy trying to silence other Maori groups planning to lodge claims over the coast until after the election.

“At least the cat is now out of the bag, and New Zealanders will be able to decide at the election whether they want a continuation of these kinds of divisive policies.

“National believes the foreshore and seabed should belong to all New Zealanders regardless of their race,” says Dr Brash.

ENDS

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