August 03, 2015
TPPA judicial review to be lodged today
Long-time opponent of the Trans Pacific Partnership, Auckland University Professor Jane Kelsey expects a High Court application for a judicial review of the TPPA to be lodged in Wellington today (Tuesday).
Jane Kelsey says the applicants including Ngati Kahungungunu are seeking an urgent hearing over the Government's refusal to release documents under the Official Information Act.
And she's hopeful the stalling of TPPA negotiations in Hawai'i at the weekend will allow time for the Waitangi Tribunal to revisit at the issue.
"The word is now out there amongst Maori since the Waitangi Tribunal claim was lodged. And the crown then said it wouldn't support an independent expert to look at whether the Treaty of Waitangi exception actually provided proper protection. Now that there is this breathing space again we hope that the Waitangi Tribunal will go back and grant an urgent hearing on the substance of the claim" she says.
Jane Kelsey says opposition to the TPPA is growing massively from many sections of society.
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