Watch out for the racists: Foreshore and Seabed back in the news

Submitted by Anonymous on 2 July 2009 - 4:25pm
in
  • Local
  • Protest Activity
  • Racism
  • State
  • Tino Rangatiratanga

The release of the Ministerial Review of the 2004 Foreshore and Seabed Act has already sparked ill-informed debate and misinformation in the media. Will the opportunity for correcting the injustices of this law be once again usurped by ignorance and racist propaganda?

The Ministerial report clearly states the one fact that seems to be continually overlooked or minimised in this debate: The Act vested in the Crown title to all foreshore and seabed land NOT ALREADY IN PRIVATE OWNERSHIP. In other words, it only took away Maori rights to seek customary or property rights, it did nothing to extinguish the existing rights of private owners of the foreshore and/or seabed.

The point is that all this rhetoric in the media about the ‘need to protect access to the beaches’ etc. doesn’t apply to the existing owners of the foreshore. Now I don’t know who all of these existing owners are, but parts of D’Urville Island in the Malborough Sounds are but one example.

On National Radio this morning, extensive time was given to the views of Hugh Barr who made a submission on behalf of some 8 outdoor recreational groups. His refrain of needing to protect unfettered access to the beaches and the birthright of kiwis to the beaches was unchallenged by the Morning Report staff. Never did they say, ‘Hugh, but what about the foreshore already in private hands?’ A continuation of this kind of unquestioning and unchallenging reporting does not bode well for an informed discussion about Maori rights to the foreshore and seabed.

Will large sectors of the pakeha population continue to propagate and buy into the racist lies about the foreshore and seabed this time around? Given that the huge offshore mineral and gas reserves are of central importance to elites and the crown’s bank accounts, the chances are pretty high that they will. At the moment, the Nats haven’t promised anything as far as repealing the law. All they will concede is that major changes will need to be made. If genuine recognition of Maori rights don’t materialise, perhaps another hikoi will be on the way to Poneke before too long, and maybe this time they won’t be so polite.

The text of the Ministerial Review Report can be found at http://www.justice.govt.nz/ministerial-review/report-ministry-review-pan...

Comments

Kia ora to the person who

Submitted by Awhimai (not verified) on 2 July 2009 - 5:01pm.

Kia ora to the person who wrote this. Tino pai to mahi. I support you in many things e hoa. The government will NEVER give Maori any RIGHTS back. But what I disagree totally is marches to the so called seats of power. All you say when you do that is "your the boss ...can you please help me". I totally disagree with such actions. The protests need to be kept local and co ordinated nationally. Local people involved in their own community. Marching to parliment only makes them seem even more important. Take back what is yours. Don't ask. Act locally, think national and global.

Tino Rangatiratanga will never be sorted out in Wellington. Lets all get together and sort this shit out. Don't leave it to them. Talk to the kaumatua, whanau and lets work towards building whanau.

 

Aroha ki a taatou katoa