Media Statement
For immediate release
Friday, 30 January 2004

Where is National on property rights?

United Future MP Gordon Copeland today expressed surprise that National Party leader Don Brash has committed his party to the revocation of any customary titles issued to Maori under the Government’s foreshore and seabed proposals.

“Not only would that be a direct breach of the Treaty of Waitangi, it is also to play with an extant property right which should only be extinguished by way of fair and just compensation.

“For the leader of a right wing/centre right political party to ignore that is to deny one of the fundamental principles which underpins democracy, freedom, the rule of law, free and open markets etc.

“I have introduced a bill to Parliament in an endeavour to see property rights enshrined in the NZ Bill of Rights Act. I thought in doing that I was defending property rights against encroachment from the left: I certainly never expected to see such rights attacked also from the right!” said Mr Copeland.

Ends.

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