A former MP says Crown assertions that Maori have been consulted on the Trans Pacific Partnership are an absolute fallacy.
Hone Harawira is part of the high profile Maori group who have banded together to seek an urgent hearing of the Waitangi Tribunal, to determine if the international trade deal will compromise Maori rights under the treaty.
Other claimants include Rikirangi Gage, Moana Maniapoto, Dr Papaarangi Reid, and Moana Jackson.
Mr Harawira was at yesterdays tribunal hearing in Wellington.
Both he and Annette Sykes who represents the roopu, refute Crown suggestions Maori have been consulted and are disgusted by the secrey surrounding the TPPA negotiations.
" Been 20 rounds of negotiations and they have all been held in secret and the crown is not about to release that information to the claimants or even to the tribunal. So making the whole thing very very difficult. Annette (Sykes) put the case that if it's being held in secret then there can't be any consultation. And consultation is a key element of the Treaty principles and that element has been completely ignored in this process" says Hone Harawira
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