MEDIA STATEMENT
Te Ururoa Flavell
Acting Leader, Maori Party
6 September 2010

Maori Party welcomes repeal legislation

The Maori Party is pleased with today’s introduction of a bill that the Maori Party and iwi across the country have been longing for.

“We're really pleased to see that a great injustice, a wrong will finally be righted and our people will get access to justice,” acting Maori Party leader, Te Ururoa Flavell said.

The NZ Marine Coastal Area Bill was introduced to the House today and will have its first reading this Thursday. It corrects a major injustice through the repeal of the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004.

“Iwi and hapu leaders have had input into the drafting of the bill and will continue to guide the Government in creating the strongest pathway forward. We're expecting there to be some refining of the bill during select committee.”

The bill would give iwi the opportunity to gain customary title and to have customary rights recognised and protected formally, Mr Flavell said.

“This legislation will give iwi a real say in the management of the coastal areas in their tribal domains in a way that was never possible before.

The Maori Party has always argued that providing for the expression of mana is necessary to restore the relationship between the Crown and iwi, he said.

“We welcome the statement upfront in the bill of the enduring mana-based relationship of Maori as tangata whenua, with the foreshore and seabed; and that the expression of that mana is to be legally recognised and protected.”

ENDS

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