NZCPR Newsletter: Mana or Money

When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. 

After receiving a financial payment from the company however, the Ngai Tahu sub-tribe changed its mind and publicly supported the scheme.

NZCPR Newsletter: Activist Capture

Two weeks ago, the first day of racing of the Sail Grand Prix regatta in Lyttleton Harbour was cancelled due to the sighting of a Hector’s dolphin. That followed a practice day, where sailing was restricted to only 11 minutes. And on the final race day teams were again refused practice time.

The race area is a dolphin sanctuary and the race organisers had agreed to abide by the special protocols that were put in place.

However, world champion New Zealand yachtsman and SailGP Executive Director Sir Russell Coutts believes the restrictions were excessive and a symptom of a wider problem that New Zealand faces.

Graeme Reeves: Why is the Creation of Customary Marine Titles an Issue of Concern for New Zealand?

A brief legislative history of the seabed and foreshore journey

Prior to the 2003 Court of Appeal decision commonly referred to as the Ngati Apa decision it was generally believed that customary rights to the foreshore and seabed had been extinguished by the cession of sovereignty under the Treaty of Waitangi.

The Ngati Apa case held that Maori customary title could only be extinguished by legislation and because that had not happened the definition of “land” in the Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993 applied and under that definition the foreshore and seabed was not necessarily excluded from being land.

The finding gave jurisdiction to the Maori Land Court to hear applications by claimants seeking to establish customary title.

NZCPR Newsletter: Court of Appeal Opens Coast to Maori Ownership

A Court of Appeal decision was released last week that will have a profound influence on the future of New Zealand. Poor drafting and a radical application of ‘tikanga’ by the judiciary has delivered the exact opposite outcome from what the public was promised.

The law in question is the Marine and Coastal Area Act (MACA). It was introduced by John Key’s National Government back in 2011 as part of their coalition agreement with the Maori Party. The new law repealed Crown ownership of the foreshore and seabed and opened up the coast for tribal claims.

NZCPR Newsletter: Tribal Takeover

Probably the most important court case of recent times was held in Wellington last month, yet it  attracted no mention in the media.

It was a Court of Appeal hearing seeking to overturn a High Court decision to grant multiple customary marine titles over a 40 km stretch of coastline near Opotiki. If the Edwards Marine and Coastal Area Act ruling stands, it will set a precedent for almost 600 yet to be determined claims, with the likely result that the ownership of virtually the entire New Zealand coastline – right out to the 12 nautical mile edge of the Territorial Sea – will pass to Maori.

NZCPR Newsletter: He Puapua Accelerates

“The catch cry ‘democracy does not work for Maori’ has become the mantra for the destruction of democracy. Lenin would recognise what is being attempted in New Zealand in 2022, as would any self-respecting South American dictator. Quite simply we are witnessing a coup designed to dismantle our democracy and the Rule of Law and replace it with the worst form of tribalism coupled with the greed of those who want what they have not earned.”

– Anthony Willy, former Judge and Law Lecturer, June 2022

The rollout of the Government’s He Puapua plan to establish Maori sovereignty by 2040 is proceeding at breath taking speed. We are living in revolutionary times. It is a coup, by a small number of iwi elite who have their hands on the levers of power thanks to our Prime Minister’s willingness to sacrifice New Zealand democracy for totalitarian tribal rule.

Virtually every facet of our society is now subjected to their influence with their latest ‘conquest’, the legal system.