June 25, 2015
Singer stands up for treaty rights
Singer Moana Maniapoto says she knows what it's like to have her name stolen.
That's why she's joined with other leading Maori including Rikirangi Gage, Angeline Greensill, Hone Harawira, Moana Jackson and Papaarangi Reid in lodging a treaty claim against the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement.
They have asked the Waitangi Tribunal for an urgent hearing, given that the TPPA could soon be on the fast track for approval by the United States Congress.
In New Zealand it won't even go to parliament for approval, but will be binding on future governments once it is rubber-stamped by ministers.
Ms Maniapoto says the challenge of protecting Maori intellectual property was brought home to her when her name was trademarked by a company in Germany, and the government appears to have done nothing stop Maori language, culture and music is being appropriated by companies.
"We have no seat at the table. We have no right to participate in decsions that are highly likely to impact our rights under the treaty. Our concerns about the environment, mining, intellectual property, things like that, If we try to enforce our rights under the treaty, states might be able to challenge our government in tribunals that are outside New Zealand so where does that leave us as a people," she says.
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