Listen Now: 
Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell and Labour’s Meka Whaitiri are at odds about whether the Government has enough support from Maori to introduce its new Te Ture Whenua Maori Bill.
Answering the Te Tairawhiti MP’s questions this week, Mr Flavell said there was broad support for land law reform coming not only from recent hui but also from the extensive consultation that has taken place over 17 years.
Ms Whaitiri says what matters is the hui this year of the current bill, and they didn’t pass the test for adequate consultation.
She says Mr Flavell failed to explain why he needed to completely rewrite the 1993 Act.
"There’s been no 'this is what it doesn't do.' There's been no feedback to landowners identifying what are the barriers, what are the problems and therefore we're coming up with these suggested changes. It's just a litany of many advisory groups over many years saying 'these are the problems, these are the problems,' and the crown is going 'here’s the solution,'" Ms Whaitiri says.
Mr Flavell says the purpose and principles of the bill clearly outline that Te Tiriti o Waitangi, tino rangatiratanga, and taonga tuku iho are given greater effect than the current Act.
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
RELATED NEWS
