Listen Now: 
Mana vice president Annette Sykes says the chair of the Federation of Maori Authorities has no right to commit her organisation to support the Trans Pacific Partnership.
Traci Houpapa says she is confident Trade Minister Tim Groser and his team have landed the best possible deal for New Zealand, and the removal of tariffs is an immediate advantage for Maori exporters.
Ms Sykes says as details of the deal signed in Atlanta yesterday are still under wraps, it’s hard to see how Ms Houpapa can endorse it.
She says the view of FOMA, which represents large Maori land trusts and incorporation, is at odds with the bulk of Maori opinion.
"That young women needs to reflect on what she is saying because she doesn't speak for Maoridom and I don't believe FOMA has a mandate on this at all and if she is going to point to a mandate, where did she get it, because certainly the 95 percent of Maori in opposition never gave it to them," Ms Sykes says
She says while organisations like the New Zealand Maori Council spoke up about the secrecy surrounding the TPPA and the failure to consult Maori, FOMA was silent during the negotiations.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
RELATED NEWS
