Government plans seabed law by end of year

By RUTH BERRY political reporter

The Government wants to introduce foreshore and seabed legislation by the end of the year, a plan set to inflame iwi.

National says the legislation should have been introduced "yesterday". Leader Bill English said the longer the issue dragged on, becoming a political nightmare for the Government, the greater the uncertainty in the public mind.

Fisheries Minister Pete Hodgson mentioned the timeline at the Waitangi Fisheries Commission's annual hui in Wellington yesterday and later spelled it out to media.

Many iwi representatives missed Mr Hodgson's reference, included in a speech, but will be angered by it.

They are already concerned the Government will present them with a fait accompli, engaging in a Clayton's negotiation process after it announces its proposals.

Attempts to draw the Government into negotiations with iwi before it reveals those proposals have failed, with Associate Maori Affairs Minister John Tamihere saying they would be released next week.

Te Tau Ihu spokesman John Mitchell said: "It's clear they have drawn up a substantive paper but don't want to release it."

But Mr Hodgson said the Government still had to get some things "sorted out in our minds".

It was also getting mixed messages from iwi. "I think Maori are wanting on the one hand us to do things nice and quietly and carefully and on the other to give them some certainty."

While Te Tau Ihu wanted the release delayed, it was initially heartened by the Government's guarantee yesterday that it would "consult fully" iwi, Dr Mitchell said.

But told the Government wanted to legislate by Christmas, an annoyed Dr Mitchell said: "There's not a show in hell of getting it introduced by the end of the year if it wants to consult properly."

Te Tau Ihu and the commission have set up a working group in a bid to develop a common iwi position.

But fractures between iwi were emerging yesterday, with some determined to negotiate with the Government independently.

Others are angered by the commission's involvement.

It is offside with some iwi because of its handling of the allocation issue, while others fear it is in the Government's pocket.

Hauraki, which ran the Paeroa hui, and Te Tau Ihu are articulating different positions.

Commissioner Maui Solomon and others warned yesterday that success could be achieved only if iwi unified.

There was a marked shift in emphasis at yesterday's hui, away from the talk of ownership and title that dominated the Paeroa hui and towards talk of rights.

Working group chairman Matiu Rei said as the Government was acting with "indecent haste" iwi had to move fast.

Hauraki spokesman John McEnteer said any Government attempt to award a guardianship or "kaitiaki" title to iwi would be considered a whitewash.

Mr English said the Government's initially firm stance had indicated it had legislation ready to go, but now it appeared to be dithering. It was delaying an announcement because it was "scared witless".

Meanwhile, Associate Courts Minister Margaret Wilson said yesterday 16 foreshore and seabed applications had been lodged in the Maori Land Court since June 19.