Foreshore and seabed deal done to save face

After a large review, discussion documents and hui up and down the country, legislation affecting the foreshore and seabed will be replaced with legislation almost identical to that which was proposed some months ago and opposed by the Maori Party just last week, says Shadow Attorney, David Parker

“This is clearly a face saving exercise for the Maori Party,” said David Parker.

“There is no difference between vesting the foreshore and seabed in ‘public space’ and vesting it in the ‘public domain’ – a concept the Maori Party had said they were adamantly against.

“John Key admitted that ‘the name [public domain] may change but the essence of the proposal is the same’.

“This announcement was largely a smoke and mirrors exercise with name changes.

“Labour has always maintained that it was willing to work with the government to ensure an enduring solution to the foreshore and seabed issue.

“The differences between today’s announcement and the proposals consulted on at hui are of no substance despite Maori Party assertions to the contrary.

"The Maori Party pretence to the contrary is vacuous,” said David Parker.

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