Government’s race-based privatisation of the Foreshore and Seabed is theft from the public

The Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations (CORANZ) strongly opposes Government’s proposals to give very strong private property rights to the foreshore and seabed to coastal iwi and hapu.

“Government is proposing legislation to statutorily create a Maori customary title to the foreshore and seabed, in spite of there being no proof that any customary title to the Foreshore &Seabed ever existed.” Council spokesman Dr Hugh Barr said. “This is privatising a highly valued public common on a racial basis. It is highly detrimental to the majority of New Zealanders, who presently have strong rights to this vast area.

New Zealand’s Foreshore and Seabed is very large covering more than 100,000 sq km. This is over a third of our total dry-land area of 300,000 sq km.

“The Government is following the recommendations of the Maori activist-stacked Durie Panel that reviewed the Foreshore and Seabed Act last year. Because there is no proof that Maori customary title existed, the Panel recommended that Government should declare it to exist, “for certainty” and then negotiate with iwi over its control. This is a totally unacceptable way to deal with a publicly owned resource” Dr Barr said. “It’s called theft. But it is basically what National is doing.”

“National is proposing allocating very strong property rights for this newly invented Maori title of “customary” foreshore and seabed. These include sole rights to take minerals, rights to all aquaculture development, and veto rights on future development by others”.

“Even public access is not always assured, in spite of Government promises. Many developments would be leases that excluded public access. Wahi tapu (sacred places), can be created by iwi, where public access is forbidden. And there is no guarantee that public facilities servicing recreation, such as marinas, wharves, moorings etc will be replaced or improved”.

“By creating Maori “customary title” National is opening a Pandora’s box of racial property rights and privileges guaranteed to create major conflict with the public”.

“Under this proposed system all coastal iwi/hapu are likely to get these “customary” rights. So most of the 100,000 sq km of the foreshore and seabed will get “customary” title through the Courts. If this does not happen, or even if it does, iwi/hapu can negotiate secretly with the Minister for a better deal. This is process very open to corrupt practice”.

“The Government has allowed the ridiculously short time of twenty working days for public submissions. They close at 5 pm this Friday, 30 April. Instead at least three months should be allowed for this important question of the future ownership and management of this very large area of public land. It appears government wants to sneak this consultation through before the public works out what is really at stake.”

This National Party recipe for racial conflict on the foreshore is best avoided. It is clearly best to stay with the clarity and certainty of the 2004 Act” Dr Barr said. “It is essential that the Crown continues to own the foreshore and seabed for ALL New Zealanders.”

ENDS

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