Govt under pressure after UN foreshore report

Greens want Govt to repeal foreshore laws amid critical UN report; Sth Island tribe Ngai Tahu wants to discuss with Govt

14 March 2005
The Greens want the foreshore and seabed law scrapped in light of a damning report from a United Nations body.

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination describes the legislation as discriminatory against Maori.

It says the act does extinguish the possibility of customary title and does not give Maori a guaranteed right of redress.

Green party Maori Affairs spokeswoman Metiria Turei claims the Government is trying to ignore the report as much as it can.

She says it should front up and repeal the legislation immediately.

Meanwhile, South Island tribe Ngai Tahu wants a meeting with the Government to discuss the report.

Chairman Mark Solomon says the findings come as no surprise and validate some of the other concerns Ngai Tahu raised, including the haste with which the law was passed.

He says the UN decision gives Ngai Tahu the basis for fresh talks with the Government.

© 2010 NZCity, IRN