The National Party did pretty well out of BOP voters at the last election, but do all the true-blue voters out there really know just what the hell is going on at the moment?
Earlier this year National, with support from the Maori Party, passed the ETS (Emissions Trading Scam) legislation, which will do nothing for the environment, but will ham-string NZ economically.
Now, the payback for Maori Party support is the review/repeal of the 2004 Foreshore and Seabed Act. The new Marine & Coastal Areas Bill has already passed its first reading in the house. The implications for the NZ public are potentially huge. Some areas of concern are as follows:
- Customary marine title only for Maori tribal groups, with very strong private property rights can be declared anywhere on foreshore and seabed areas, out to the 22.2km territorial limit provided the group meets relatively vague conditions.
- No restriction or public consultation on what areas are Wahi Tapu, where the public are banned. These can be anywhere out to the 22.2 km territorial sea limit. Up to $5000 fine for anyone caught breaching them.
- Maori to have veto rights on any commercial activity in their customary marine title area. It may allow a Maori-affiliated monopoly to ensue, or simply clip-the-ticket of existing commercial operations.
- No need for Maori to go to Court to gain ‘Customary Title' (ownership) of areas of interest. Clauses 93-95 of the Bill stipulate that ‘recognition by agreement' can be reached between the claimants and the Minister in secret, and without public scrutiny or objection.
- The whole NZ coastline is potentially up for grabs, including local beaches.
- Parts of the legislation are too vague and open-ended. It will be a feast for lawyers, and a burden for bureaucrats and the taxpayer.
There are numerous other issues with this legislation, that reads like a land/asset/power grab in favour of coastal/corporate iwi. The problem is that we (the public) will all pay the price.
This proposed legislation will also create unnecessary social conflict and division, and is a dangerous path for us to be headed down. The best solution for now is that the foreshore and seabed must remain vested in crown ownership for the benefit of all New Zealanders, as in the 2004 Foreshore and Seabed Act.
The National Party have no public mandate to alter or remove this.
We may be a land of different peoples, but in order to move ahead as one nation we must oppose racial separatism (and racism), in any form that it may take.
Contact your local MP, and make a submission opposing the new Marine & Coastal Areas Bill, and supporting retaining the 2004 Act, before November 19. You may not get another chance, so act now. Only public opposition will stop the virtual (fate accompli) gifting away of a huge amount of our public foreshore and seabed.
Dean Maisey, Tauranga.