More Time Needed for Talks on Foreshore and Seabed

“The Council of Trade Unions has written to the Prime Minister seeking more time for public discussion on the foreshore and seabed issue,” CTU president Ross Wilson said today.

“A meeting in Wellington of unions affiliated to the CTU has called for adequate time and appropriate processes to ensure that informed discussion, with respect and integrity, can take place between whanau, hapu and iwi and the Government which ensures a principled and just outcome,” he said

Meetings are taking place up and down the country in unions and communities, Ross Wilson said.

“Greater understanding of the issues is developing but more time is needed to work through to a fair outcome.

“The CTU has conveyed our concern to the Prime Minister and asked that any legislation foreshadowed by the Government discussion paper not be further considered until the processes of public debate have been worked through.

“There are possible options emerging in the discussions, and terminating the consultation process on October 3 would be premature and inflammatory,” Ross Wilson said.

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