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November 11, 2015
Women’s League questions land reform logic
Waatea Team
Posted On November 11, 2015
The Waitangi Tribunal has been told no rational basis has been given for replacing the current Te Ture Whenua Maori Act with a new Maori land law.
The tribunal is hearing an urgent claim this week about the reform.
Prue Kapua, the president of the Maori Women’s Welfare League, said the league is unhappy about consultation on the bill.
She says it was just told what was happening, rather than being given an opportunity to have input into the reforms.
She says there has been no review of the 1993 Act that justifies a decision to repeal it.
The emphasis in the new bill on economic development is a reversion to the pre-1993 regime that led to significant loss of land by Maori through crown processes.
Many owners would be disenfranchised because decisions would be made about their land without their input, and the role of the Maori Land Court would be reduced to checking compliance with procedures.
Ms Kapua says the Government’s decision to repeal the law means other options for better use of Maori land have not been considered, such as amendments to the Resource Management Act.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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