Act Party deputy leader John Boscawen is urging Bay of Plenty residents to stop the government's new foreshore and seabed bill by 'swamping” it out with submissions.

That's what he told a Tauranga audience of about 35 people, which included the city's former MP Bob Clarkson, on Friday afternoon.

John Boscawen urges a Tauranga audience to make a submission on the government's proposed Marine and Coastal Area Bill.

He used his appearance in the city to highlight the Act Party's concerns regarding the Marine and Coastal Area Bill, which replaces Labour's controversial 2004 foreshore and seabed legislation.

He told the audience he wants the Maori Affairs Select Committee to take at least six or seven months, if not more, to review the proposed legislation.

'This is one way we can stop this bill.”

He warned the bill could have damaging implications for people in coastal areas, such as Tauranga residents.

John is worried the Marine and Coastal Area Bill will not prevent the collection of charges or fees from reserves awarded to iwi.

He is also concerned that ‘nationalised resources', which include gold, silver, uranium and oil, are the only resources exempt from economic development on coastal areas given to Maori.

John gave the example that iron sand is a huge industry developing in New Zealand, but iwi would have economic exclusivity on this because it is not a nationalised asset.

'New Zealand has a massive potential of resources and it's these resources that can feed growth in China and India.”

The audience was told this was not a Maori versus non-Maori issue.

'This is about select iwi getting a prime benefit.

'New Zealanders are quite blasé. This issue has been in the public arena since 2003 and people think the National Party is doing a good job, but this bill will be irreversible.”