Controversial seabed and foreshore law in force

A controversial law placing New Zealand's foreshore and seabed in Crown ownership comes into effect today.

The foreshore legislation was the end of a long-running row that began in 2003 when the Court of Appeal said the Maori Land Court had jurisdiction to hear claims to territory below the high tide mark.

The judges ruled that crown ownership was not completely certain and it was possible that a claim to a customary title could in some cases convert to a private title.

The Government legislated for crown ownership and said it had put into written law all that Maori could have achieved under common law through the courts.

Many Maori saw the law as land confiscation and there were protests, peaking in May when a hikoi of thousands of protesters -- some who had walked the length of the North Island -- reached Parliament.

The Government argued the law guaranteed access to everyone and would be enforced.

The NZ First party backed the bill and helped the Government get it through Parliament.

Community group Te Mangoroa was to hold a protest march in Christchurch this morning to mark the day.

The group planned to march through the city from 11am, spokesman Malcolm Mulholland told Radio New Zealand.

For a weekend in December the group held a peaceful occupation of New Brighton Pier.

- NZPA