Iwi push back on new Marine & Coastal Bill feared to curtail customary rights

Māori leaders from across the motu (country) are mobilising in response to the Government’s proposed Marine & Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill, currently in its final stages of drafting before being introduced to Parliament this month.

Under the current draft, customary claims over foreshore and seabed would face higher evidentiary thresholds and narrower definitions of Māori customary use, critics warn. The changes could significantly limit the ability of iwi and hapū to assert customary rights in coastal zones, especially in regions where urban and industrial development pressures are strong.

Opposition parties, including Te Pāti Māori and Labour, have pledged to oppose the bill, citing insufficient consultation and inadequate recognition of Māori kaitiakitanga (guardianship). They point out that previous Supreme Court rulings already upheld more generous interpretations of customary rights, and that this new bill appears to be a deliberate effort to curtail Māori coastal interests.

A formal submission window opens this week. In parallel, protests and coastal hui (meetings) are scheduled in key regions including Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Otago.

Observers say this will be one of the defining Māori; Crown confrontations of 2025, especially given rising tensions around resource management, climate change, and sea-level rise.

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