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Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell is accusing critics of his Te Ture Whenua Maori Bill of playing politics.
A group of eminent Maori lawyers and academics have called for the Maori land law reform to be delayed, because they say it imposes undue commercial and cultural risk and uncertainty, and there is a lack of clarity about how it will work in practice.
Mr Flavell says the open letter was issued before his final version was tabled, and they should have read the 400-plus page bill before commenting.
He justifies the reform based on things that will be in supplementary legislation.
"Who in their right mind would not accept dealing with issues of Public Works (Act), which have been on the table for our people for a long time. Who would not look at issues of offering back surplus crown land. looking at issues to do with valuation that our people have long talked about. Talking about issues to do with rating, paper roads, landlocked land, these issues have been on the agenda for a long time, we have addressed them, and yet people still have a problem with it," Mr Flavell says.
He says he had adopted every recommendation made by the Maori affairs select committee.
FULL INTERVIEW WITH TE URUROA FLAVELL
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