Land Review Findings Vindicate Iwi concerns

Announcements today that yet another ministerial group will be established to oversee significant land sales, but a group which excludes the Minister in Charge of Treaty Negotiations and the Minister of Maori Affairs, is being questioned by the Maori Party.

“We have to remember that the origins of the review of Crown land disposal processes emerged from calls from Ngati Kahu, Hauraki, Tuwharetoa, the Maori Council and the Maori Party – who all raised concerns about the sale of land by Landcorp” said Dr Sharples, Co-Leader of the Maori Party. “But when it comes to making decisions, it seems the Treaty partner is not needed”.

“Shifting responsibilities to a different agency (LINZ) and setting up another new team of Ministers to make decisions, is yet another case of rearranging the chairs on the sinking cruiser, HMS OTS, while the band plays the same old tune” said Dr Sharples.

“The lyrics of this latest shipwreck, all appear very positive” said Dr Sharples, "as we know many iwi will feel justified to have their original fears confirmed that the existing processes are inadequate, and that they were right in challenging the Crown about the way in which land was being disposed of previously” said Dr Sharples.

“We commend the perseverance and the vision of iwi who have raised these concerns so strongly with the Crown” said Dr Sharples. “The results of the review today are an absolute vindication of their concers”.

“Given the fundamental significance of land to both Treaty partners, we are amazed that neither of the relevant Ministers - of Maori Affairs and Treaty Negotiations - are included in the decision making body” said Dr Sharples.

“It’s one thing to expect TPK to come up with various life-rafts to assess ‘sensitive values’ but when it comes to the crux of the decision, the faithful first Mate, Captain Horomia has been shafted once more” said Dr Sharples.

“We are also keen to know more of the detail which flows from the Cabinet Minute note that “routine notification of local government authorities and Te Puni Kokiri will allow those groups to use their existing resources and powers to protect values of interest to them” said Dr Sharples. "What groups are being referred to here? What existing resources and powers? Whose values and interests? It all seems very unclear, very bureaucratic speak with no real meaning or clarity”

“The comment – “as land banked properties are purchased at market rates, non-departmental entites are unlikely to be discouraged from participating in Landbanking” - is also likely to raise questions and concerns".

“It appears yet another ship is being set off in a rather wobbly course from Wellington” said Dr Sharples. “We’ll be looking for our direction, from those who are sailing other waka before we come out with any bottles of champagne”.