Tribunal rejects TPP hearing

The Waitangi Tribunal have declined requests for a hearing about the TPP.

Requests from Northland Maori for an urgency hearing into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) have been declined by the Waitangi Tribunal but one organisation says the fight is not over yet.

The Te Tai Tokerau District Maori Council was one of five claimants whose request for a Tribunal urgency hearing into the TPP was rejected.

Council chairman Rihari Dargaville said if the TPP was to be implemented Maori rights recognised in the Treaty could be compromised.

"Iwi, hapu and tribes around the country have become more aware of the impact of the TPP and it shows we must continue with our original objective and that is we do not agree with the TPPA as being beneficial to our Maori development."

The TPP is a proposed free-trade deal between 12 Asia-Pacific countries, including New Zealand, the US and Japan. Information about the agreement has been kept under wraps by Government officials, causing some concern among critics.

The Tribunal's decision said there was no "realistic prospect" of an urgent inquiry because of the secrecy surrounding the TPP and because claims were filed so close to final TPP talks - several claims were filed after US President Barack Obama gained fast track authority in June.

"We are not convinced there is a proper basis to intervene, or attempt to intervene and exercise what limited recommendatory or inquiry powers we have at this final stage of the TPP negotiations."

The Tribunal made the decision before the latest round of TPP negotiations in Hawaii wrapped up without an agreement at the end of July. If the TPP is delayed until after the 2016 American presidential elections, the Tribunal said it would consider next steps after hearing further from the parties.

"An inquiry in this time frame may enable a wider focus to include more detailed scrutiny of the extent to which Crown negotiation practice has in this instance been consistent with its obligations to Maori under te Tiriti."

Mr Dargaville said he was glad a TPP agreement was not reached but it didn't mean the council would stop fighting for an urgency hearing.

"What it means for us is to be proactive about our direction and, at this stage, the only medium that can be dealt with is with the Waitangi Tribunal. We've instructed our lawyers to push for a full hearing at the Waitangi Tribunal," he said.