‘POPULAR BEACHES TARGETED FOR FORESHORE CLAIMS
It has started – Maori tribal corporations are lining up to claim customary title of our coastline. Thanks to National’s Marine and Coastal Area Act, the country’s foreshore and seabed – which has always been the birthright and common heritage of all New Zealanders equally under common law – has now been put up for grabs by iwi.
As a result of media requests under the Official Information Act, reports are now emerging that claims for prime areas of the coastline are in the pipeline. Public fears that the new law would usher in a major resource grab are being confirmed. And the new law is barely two months old!
……under this new Marine and Coastal Area Act claimants will be negotiating their claims for the coast in secret with the Minister who consulted with them on what the law should contain! ‘ (emphasis mine. kg)
Muriel Newman, NZCPR
UPDATE: Jumping ship National should be worried.
