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Former cabinet minister Dame Tariana Turia says Environment Minister Nick Smith is trying to divide Maoridom over the creation of the Kermadec Ocean sanctuary.
Dame Tariana was part of a group of senior Maori who yesterday voiced their support for Te Ohu Kaimoana's legal action against the sanctuary, which will extinguish the right of Maori to develop deepwater fisheries round the islands to the northeast of New Zealand.
The wharepuni at her marae in Whangaehu is named Rangitahua to honour Ngati Apa's connection to the islands where its waka Kurahaupo sheltered for repairs on the voyage to Aotearoa,
She's offended Dr Smith claims sustainability concerns and support from northernmost iwi Ngati Kuri and Te Aupouri to justify the sanctuary, even through the fisheries settlement was with all iwi.
"There has already been a sanctuary put there by our people. For the last 10 years there has been no fishing, no trawling going on and then Nick Smith comes in with a private organisation, Pew, which is an America organisation, to take over," she says.
Dame Tariana says National can't say it opposed the Foreshore and Seabed Act to win the support of the Maori Party, and then turn round a few years later and confiscate Maori property rights.
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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