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A leading rongoā Māori practitioner is accusing the Government of circumventing the Crown's treaty obligations with its proposed changes to the Therapeutic Products Bill.
Download AudioA leading rongoā Māori practitioner is accusing the Government of circumventing the Crown’s treaty obligations with its proposed changes to the Therapeutic Products Bill.
The changes announced this week would exempt many small-scale manufacturers of natural health product and rongoā practitioners from the new regulations.
Donna Kerridge says what’s proposed falls far short of the rangatiratanga discussed in the WAI 262 claim on indigenous fauna and flora, including rongoa.
“Essentially, the crown has graciously conceded that so long as Maori limit rongoa to a cottage industry they will allow it. Should we show signs of or attempt any serious commercial potential, the crown retains the right to set the rules,” Ms Kerridge says.
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