April 18, 2016
Who actually benefits from the Te Ture Whenua Maori Bill?
Who actually benefits from the Te Ture Whenua Maori Bill?
MARTYN 'BOMBER' BRADBURY
Barely a month after the Waitangi Tribunal criticised the new plans for Maori land for its utter lack of real consultation with Maori, the Maori Development Minister, Te Ururoa Flavell has pushed ahead with the law change.
Why?
Maori land has large amounts of co-ownership, the law change will mean that rather than gain agreement from all owners of that land before anything can be done with it, the threshold is lowered so only a few dominant voices are able to make changes.
Who benefits from that?
Those interests who wish to develop the land and make a quick profit over the interests of all those who co-own it.
In short, it's a vast rip off of the values that underpin Maori land so that developers can make a buck.
Last week, the Minister had this to say…
"After thorough consideration of the issues presented by the tribunal and the ongoing work that continues on Te Ture Whenua reform, I am pleased to announce that I have introduced that bill into the house today."
…so how has that consultation progressed? Most interested parties have been told the changes are being made regardless of opposition. That's about as far away from actual 'consulataion' as you can get.
The Minister has been informed that he risks breaching the Treaty of Waitangi if he continues at this reckless pace, it hasn't slowed him. Claimants have argued that they haven't seen the final version of the Bill that the Minister claims will calm their concerns and his promise that they will have their voices heard at the select committee stage misses the fact that many Maori simply don't participate in that process.
This law isn't for the benefit of Maori, it is for the benefit of developers and the corporate Iwi elite who want to make a a quick buck.
To watch a Minister of Maori Development sell out that development for interests that serve themselves rather than Maoridom is just another chapter in the sad story of the Maori Party's decline into lap dog rather than guard dog.
Martyn Bradbury
Editor – TheDailyBlog.co.nz
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