GOVERNMENT GETS READY TO SELL MAORI DOWN THE RIVER FOR FOREIGN CORPORATE INTERESTS

"Is the Government preparing to sell Maori interests out - and in doing so, blatantly undermining the integrity of the Treaty settlements process?" asks Ngati Apa ki te Rā Tō CEO Butch Bradley.

"They've acted highly improperly by giving preferential treatment to offshore interests; while denying Maori similar opportunities. Seemingly deliberately placing obstacles in the way of our development by peddling what appears to be misinformation."

"As part of our proposed deed of settlement with the Crown, 9 iwi asked for suitable water-space at the top of the South Island for Iwi to engage in aquaculture farming."

“The Crown stated that there was no suitable area available, due to a 'prohibited zone' for aquaculture under the local District Plan.”

"So the short answer from the Crown was, that there was no space available and that iwi would be offered cash instead.”

"Now it is our understanding that the Crown has also run parallel negotiations with the salmon farming company, King Salmon, over exactly the same area which Iwi want to use for farming purposes."

"The Minister is proposing to exercise special powers on King Salmon's behalf under section 360A of the Resource Management Act to simply abolish the prohibitions on aquaculture in the areas they wanted to farm in. No applications to alter the District Plan required - for them, at least. And never mind evidence that their approach to aquaculture can potentially pollute and destroy the local seabed."

"Why is it the Minister only exercises his special powers when it is in the interest of foreign corporates and not in the interests of Maori."

"Why does this Government seem to think it's right to give special treatment to foreigners, whilst denying basic good-faith negotiation and equal opportunity to its own treaty partner?”

"We need to fix this. Going forward, we seek an undertaking from the Minister that he shall exercise his powers under section 360A in a way that that is fair to New Zealand and Maori interests.”

"It is unfortunate that to date this has been denied. The reason we have a Treaty Settlements process in the first place is because previous Crown Governments decided to unfairly disadvantage Maori so that overseas-originating interests could make a quick buck at our expense."

"We hope that history is not repeating itself and look forward to working productively with the Crown to restore trust and attempt to resolve these issues."

ENDS

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