The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) is a proposed free trade deal between New Zealand, Australia, United States, Canada, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and Mexico, all of the Asia-Pacific region.
Negotiations began in 2005 and are expected to conclude in the next few weeks.
The major concern is that the TPPA has not been seen or made publicly available. The Labour Party has called on the Government to release the full text and until this detail is made available, we should all be concerned. It is expected that the Government will release the detail of the agreement after negotiations are complete. This is too late.
The Government is promoting the TPPA as an agreement that will grow economic links between these countries by opening up trade in good and services. While Labour supports free trade, we will not support a TPP agreement that undermines New Zealand's sovereignty. This means:
-The Treaty of Waitangi must be upheld.
-Pharmac must be protected.
-Corporations cannot successfully sue the government for regulating in the public interest.
-New Zealand maintains the right to restrict sales of farm land and housing to non-resident foreigner buyers.
-Meaningful gains are made for our farmers in tariff reductions and market access The bottom line for Labour is that New Zealand's sovereign rights must be protected. Anything else is unacceptable.
Leaked drafts of parts of the TPPA have signalled several high-level threats, and have been the catalyst for rallies and marches throughout New Zealand, and an urgent claim lodged with the Waitangi Tribunal from a group of high-profile Maori who allege the Government is breaching the Treaty of Waitangi principles in its negotiations of the TPPA.
It is imperative that rights recognised in the Treaty of Waitangi are not compromised by the TPPA. We know that the Government can get this wrong and the debacle of the Auckland housing development areas and the first right of refusal for Crown land is a recent example of this.
The leaked draft shows domestic law could be overridden by foreign companies, even when it involves Treaty of Waitangi issues. There is also concern that the TPPA will undo any progress Maori hope to make from the WAI 262 flora and fauna and intellectual property claim.
The Government has stated on several occasions, that iwi have been consulted on the TPPA. Answering for Trade Minister Tim Groser, Attorney-General Chris Finlayson told Parliament there had been TPPA consultation talks with Ngti Kahungunu, Ngapuhi, the Federation of Maori Authorities and two Maori health organisations.
I probed him further in Parliament, and then tabled an email from the acting CE of Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated (the tribe's mandated body) stating that they were not consulted.
I encourage all iwi and Maori organisations when dealing with the Crown, Crown agencies, local government or other opposing bodies to always put your position down in writing.
The cover page should contain a recommendation section which clearly states your views in plain language. A written submission not only records your position and rationale on a kaupapa but it acts as a succession plan for the next generation
-Meka Whaitiri is the MP for Ikaroa-Rawhiti