Michael Cullen
5 February, 2008
Foreshore and seabed Heads of Agreement with Ngāti Porou
The government and negotiating representatives for Te Runanga o Ngāti Porou
today signed a Heads of Agreement to move forward on issues surrounding Ngāti Porou’s special and enduring relationship
with the foreshore and seabed.
The first Heads of Agreement to be reached under the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 is an important step forward for
Maori and all New Zealanders, Attorney-General Michael Cullen said today.
“This is an important and historic day. That we have been able to reach agreement on a matter on which we all hold
strong views reflects the good faith and sincerity with which Ngāti Porou have approached these negotiations,” Michael
Cullen said.
The Labour-led government enacted the Foreshore and Seabed law in 2004 in order to provide a unified system for
recognising and protecting rights in the foreshore and seabed and by creating a fair framework for working through
individual cases.
“The government committed in 2004 to work to protect what are clearly enduring rights of Maori that have been exercised
without substantial interruption since before the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. This Heads of Agreement is a major
step in honouring that commitment,” he said.
“The framework protects the interests of ngā hapū o Ngāti Porou now and into the future. It strikes a balance between
preserving the public foreshore and seabed for all New Zealanders now and into the future while recognising and
protecting longstanding customary interests,” he said.
ENDS
Related Documents
* Summary of Ngati Porou Foreshore Agreement.doc (doc, 48 Kb)
* Fact sheets re the Ngati Porou Heads of Agreement .doc (doc, 121 Kb)