Details of the millions of dollars that taxpayers are being forced to pay to enable tribal corporations to make claims for our New Zealand Coast can be found in the 2012 Budget. Here are the appropriations for the Marine and Coastal Area Act 2011 from the Vote Treaty Negotiations:
• $23.911 million for the purchase of negotiation and implementation of historical Treaty claims and administration and implementation of the Marine and Coastal Area Act 2011
• $695,000 for the purchase of policy advice on historical Treaty claims and administration and implementation of the Marine and Coastal Area Act 2011
• $2.400 million for agreed payments for Foreshore and Seabed agreements
• $13.693 million for financial contributions to applicant groups under the Marine and Coastal Area Act 2011
Did Attorney-General Finlayson or the National Government tell New Zealanders (while completely ignoring their concerns on Foreshore & Seabed) that a substantial part of $40m per annum would effectively be handed out to avaricious Maori interests as a carrot ostensibly it would seem to encourage what often look like spurious foreshore claims and no matter what the outcome, their costs will be paid? NO they did not!!
Checkout: www.coastalcoalition.co.nz - Best move is to sign the Petition to save our beaches.

R Paterson, Matapihi.