June 13, 2018
Protest undermines Kermadec talks
Environmental groups yesterday demonstrated at parliament to raise the pressure on MPs to create an ocean sanctuary around the Kermadec islands northeast of New Zealand.
The protest followed and attempt by National MP and former environment minister Nick Smith to get parliament to debate his members bill to ban all fishing in the area.
The 6000 square kilometre sanctuary was proposed by former prime minister John Key without consulting the tribes, who said it would extinguish the rights they won in the Maori fisheries settlement to eventually fish there.
Te Ohu Kaimoana chief executive Dion Tuuta says the demonstration was an attempt to undermine discussions between Maori and the government on the matter.
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