October 13, 2015
TPP negotiators give positive brief to FOMA
Federation of Maori Authorities chair Traci Houpapa says a briefing TPP negotiators has given members comfort the 12-country trade pact will be positive for Maori exporters.
Dr David Walker and Charles Finney addressed an open session of FOMA’s annual conference at the weekend about what New Zealand would get from the Trans Pacific Partnership.
Ms Houpapa says members were particularly interested in how it would affect the crown’s obligations to Maori.
She says the New Zealand position was that rights under the Treaty of Waitangi must be protected.
"I’m thrilled to say New Zealand was able to maintain that position and have that written into the document. It gave us confidence moving forward when the full details of the TPP agreement are made public for consideration, scrutinising and also feedback," Ms Houpapa says.
Traci Houpapa says she accepts criticism of the FOMA stance as part of the robust conversation that is normal in te ao Maori.
Auckland University law professor and TPP critic Jane Kelsey says the Treaty of Waitangi annex contained in the leaked chapter on intellectual property doesn’t give the protection the government is claiming, and it needs to be scrutinised by the Waitangi Tribunal.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH TRACI HOUPAPA CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?mv_pc=12075
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