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Labour's Fisheries spokesperson Rino Tirikatene says he's gobsmacked at the arrogance displayed by Prime Minister John Key over his Government tearing up a treaty settlement.
Mr Key yesterday said the creation of 620,000 square kilometre ocean sanctuary around the Kermadec islands was the right thing to do, despite it meaning the extinguishment of fishing rights held by iwi under the Maori fisheries settlement.
He said parliament was supreme and can pass whatever laws it wants.
Mr Tirikatene says that sort of arrogance meant Te Ohu Kaimoana had no option but to challenge the proposed law in the High Court.
"I'm picking that this one is gonna go all the way to the supreme court, go all the way to the top because the government has clearly breached our deed of settlement, there's no way they can without any consultation at all, totally wipe out our fishing rights in that area so they can do so legally", says Mr Tirikatene.
Rino Tirikatene says despite the 1992 Fisheries Settlement saying the crown would fully consult with Maori on the management of fisheries and ecosystems, Te Ohu Kaimoana was given just 10 years warning before Mr Key announced the sanctuary to a United Nations oceans conference six months ago.
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