Share title to protect sea says MP

By RUTH BERRY and NZPA

Tainui MP Nanaia Mahuta has suggested a "third way" to deal with the foreshore and seabed issue - a custodial title vested in Maori and the Crown.

She says the domain of Tangaroa (the god of the sea, or the sea) would be the principal benefactor of the title. Sustainable management of it would be the primary goal.

Submissions on the issue close at the end of the week.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday that after they were analysed, the Government would take "as long as it needs to get it right".

Attorney-General Margaret Wilson, speaking at a public meeting in Tauranga, said the Government wanted the matter resolved as quickly as possible.

But if necessary, it would slow the process so everyone could understand what was happening.

Ms Mahuta's proposals were printed in the latest issue of Tu Mai magazine.

In the article the MP said the issue of "ownership" was vexed from the Crown's viewpoint.

There was no silver bullet but "if we are to navigate the unchartered waters of nationhood, Maori and the Crown need to get it right.

"It would be irresponsible to raise expectations unnecessarily. However, it is reasonable to expect that the rights of Maaori [sic] are not necessarily at odds with the rest of New Zealand."

The third way she was proposing would operate as a partnership model for marine management, initially built on indigenous principles of kaitiakitanga (guardianship).

"The greatest challenge for us, as New Zealanders, is to seriously address issues of sustainability."

A stewardship agreement between two treaty partners committed to that goal, and to upholding their shared responsibilities on behalf of all New Zealanders, would, in turn, lead to a "New Zealand worldview" of citizenship, she said.

Helen Clark, meanwhile, appeared to have little sympathy for concerns raised this week by Federated Farmers. The lobby group complained about plans to ensure public access across foreshore that was already privately owned.

It said hundreds of its members would be affected.

"I'm not aware they actually farm the foreshore," Helen Clark said.

Officials were still investigating how much of the foreshore was in private ownership, but earlier estimates suggested it was very little.

Helen Clark did not expect the issue to dominate a two-day Labour caucus meeting which started yesterday, although it would be discussed.

"We're not in decision-making mode at this point, we're waiting for submissions. At the end of this week we gather all the information in, we consider it and analyse it."

Asked if there would be another consultation round, she said: "We'll give some consideration to process when we've been able to pull together everything that has been said."

What lies ahead

* The Government said it would introduce legislation dealing with the foreshore and the seabed by the end of the year. Now it says there may be delays.

* Government hui with Maori finished last week but Government MPs are still holding meetings on the issue around the country.

* Submissions on the foreshore and seabed issue close at the end of this week.

* The Government says the moratorium on new marine farms, set to be lifted in March, may yet have to be extended.