Peters backs draft seabed bill

By RUTH BERRY


New Zealand First is set to vote for the foreshore and seabed bill and the final changes to the bill are likely to be tabled in Parliament next week.

NZ First leader Winston Peters signalled his party's intention to support the revised bill - still to be fully unveiled - in the House yesterday.

It gives the Government the votes it needs to pass one of its most controversial pieces of legislation.

"Today I have good news and bad news about the foreshore and seabed," Mr Peters said.

"The good news is for 99 per cent of New Zealanders who will go to the beach this summer safe and secure in their knowledge that they own it - and will own it forever."

NZ First supported the bill when it was introduced after the loss of MPs Tariana Turia and Nanaia Mahuta's vote forced the Government to seek its 13 votes.

United Future was initially gearing up to support the Government, but finally didn't have enough votes on its own.

It withdrew its support after Mr Peters said at the last minute his support was dependent on the replacement of "public domain" with Crown ownership.

The Government feared Mr Peters might display similar brinkmanship over the final bill, but now that seems unlikely.

Mr Peters' desire to position his party as a potential coalition partner in the next Government may be behind his announcement.

He would not afterwards discuss the negotiations occurring with the Government, saying "we are still coming to finality on the details".

But he was confident the talks would not derail at the last minute.

"What I said is what I believe will happen."

He said he had seen a final, or almost final, draft of the legislation, now expected to be tabled next week.

The foreshore and seabed select committee which examined the bill was unable to make formal recommendations as it was split five-five.

The Government will now make the changes it plans in the form of supplementary order papers.

Labour MPs on the committee made several recommendations, but Mr Peters would not discuss those.

However, he indicated changes had been made to alleviate port companies' concerns ownership of reclaimed land already vested in them would be removed by the bill.

"Port companies will get certainty of tenure - we are confident they will be happy with the outcome we have secured for them."

"And customary rights will be protected. Maori have nothing to fear and anyone who says otherwise is simply making mischief."