September 12, 2013
RMA stand to protect Maori voice
The Minister of Maori Affairs says proposed changes to the resource management act went too far in watering down the Maori voice.
The Maori Party and United Future MP Peter Dunne both have indicated they won't support Environment minister Amy Adams rewrite, and Prime Minister John Key says he is willing to negotiate changes in a bid to secure their votes.
Dr Sharples says key principals of kaitiakitanga are being sacrificed for economic development.
"In section 8 of the RMA it says: 'The views will be respected and taken notice of…' but, no. It is all these clauses we are all modifying to cut down the value of that comment or the strength of that comment, so I'm really pleased that the parties including the Maori Party have opposed that and that Maori people generally have done that, and as a minister for Maori, I feel really pleased about that opposition," says Dr Sharples.
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