Govt Resumes Theft of Foreshore and Seabed
Yesterday the Government confirmed it will ram through its Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Amendment Bill that has been deliberately designed to strip iwi and hapū of their customary rights.
This comes after the Supreme Court already raised the threshold for iwi and hapū to have their rights recognised in November last year.
The coalition decided that wasn’t good enough for them. They will not stop until they have erased every last one of our rights as tangata whenua.
“Te Pāti Māori was born from the uprising of our people against the Foreshore and Seabed Act; we will not stand by while this government wages the same attack on our people again” said Te Pāti Māori Co-leader, Rawiri Waititi.
“When Te Whakatōhea beat the Crown in the courts, they beat them at their own game, and now the Government are moving the goal posts to rig the game.”
If this Bill passes, all Customary Marine Titles granted since July 2024 will be able to be challenged and confiscated.
“Shame on this government and every government before it for upholding this disgraceful legislation” said Waititi.
“Since 2011 only one iwi has been able to claw its way through this racist and deliberately obstructive law, and now they’re raising the bar again. This is not just shameful it is an absolute disgrace.
“There is also no recognition of iwi who suffered land confiscations (iwi muru raupatu) and who have been denied undisturbed access to their takutai moana since 1840.
“The current legislation already makes it near impossible for them to lodge a claim, and this latest change slams the door shut altogether. It is a deliberate act of exclusion and injustice.”
Te Pāti Māori policy is clear, we will:
- Return the foreshore and seabed to mana whenua.
- Make Waitangi Tribunal recommendations binding on the Crown, and implement all unaddressed WAI claim recommendations.
- Abolish “full and final” and “large natural groupings”.
- Te Pāti Māori will repeal this piece of legislation in our first 100 days.
“Luxon and Goldsmith are rewriting the rules of justice to legitimise theft. We will not accept this. This govt must be one term only!” concluded Waititi.
