The select committee reviewing the Marine and Coastal Area Bill is in Tauranga on Thursday to hear submissions from local residents.
Tauranga MP Simon Bridges is a permanent member of the committee.
'It is vital that we hear the views of all kiwis on this matter and I want to ensure that everyone who comes before the committee gets a fair go at explaining their opinions.
Simon Bridges is hoping for a good turnout of people wishing to have their say on the Marine and Coastal Area Bill in Tauranga on Thursday.
'No Bill is perfect and as a committee we should be prepared to improve Bills in any way we can when submissions from people show us why.”
The Marine and Coastal Area Bill replaces Labour's controversial 2004 seabed and foreshore legislation, which was repealed earlier this year.
'For me it is a bottom line that there is full and free access to the foreshore and seabed for all New Zealanders.
'We also need to ensure that Maori have access to the courts to test their rights as any New Zealander should be able to.”
The Tauranga hearings are at Tauranga on the Waterfront motel on 2nd Avenue from 10am.
2 comments
Opinion
Posted on 08-12-2010 12:58 | By morepork
The only legal way that there can be "full and free access to the foreshore and seabed for all New Zealanders" is if the "Ownership" is retained by the Crown. Having said that, we don't want to trample roughshod over any sector of our community (whether it be Maori or any other Etnic group) and mutual respect is the only way we can hope to build a decent society. The problems arise when one group (rightly or wrongly) believe they have a preferential position in the utilization of resources in our country. We have a democratically elected Government to make those decisions on behalf of all NZers and until the Revolution, that is the system that most of us will go with. I am not anti-Maori (or anti-anybody, really), I just don't want to live in an Apartheid society where one (any) sector of the community has more rights than any other. It is time that a few snouts were removed from the trough (across ALL Ethnicities) and we started looking at ourselves as a single Nation with respect for all our Ethnic heritages, but first and foremost, New Zealanders. (In other words, it's time we grew up.) We can be an example to the world of how diversity can be invaluable in the development of a society, or we can be a shameful bunch of apathetic no-hopers who let a greedy and lazy minority (not based on race; sadly, greed and laziness are found across all Ethnic groups...) manipulate us into giving them more than a fair share. I support Simon's position and hope it prevails.
SPOT ON TURNCOATS
Posted on 08-12-2010 20:49 | By ROCKY
morepork : you basically got it right in one. I am not sure that is Bridges position but I hope for his sake it is because most NZERS feel that way and heaven help anyone who tries to shaft them because they be pissed off &will take 'utu' in 2011 elections.
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