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Auckland University law professor Jane Kelsey who has led action against the TPPA which saw an estimated 25,000 protesting around the country at the weekend says she expects a claim representing Maori interests to be re-lodged with the Waitangi Tribunal later this week.
Professor Kelsey says when the Tribunal previously looked into the issue and its secrecy the tribunal felt they did not have time to give it full consideration but with negotiations not being concluded in Hawaii two weeks ago the matter is back on the table.
She says the TPPA would rely on the Government to protect Maori interests and that is the crux of Maori opposition because government's haven't represented Maori interests fairly in the past.
"So you end up with foreign companies and foreign governments having more power in Aotearoa than tangata whenua do which is why it is do important to fight it."
Professor Kelsey says many people including Maori were in some ways slow to realise the implications of the TPPA but now fully realise it will mean higher medicine costs and other things that will seriously affect whanau.
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