Dunne derides seabed buzz

United Future leader Peter Dunne says speculation over whether the Maori Party has the numbers to pass its bill to repeal the foreshore and seabed legislation is premature.

The Maori Party says it will soon introduce a bill repealing the law that spawned the party's birth - the Foreshore and Seabed Act.

National has suggested it would consider supporting the bill. Its numbers added with those of the Maori Party, Act and the Greens would make up 60 votes.

Labour would need United Future's three votes to give it 61, with New Zealand First and the Progressives' support.

But Mr Dunne said there was a long way to go before that stage.

"It's really quite ridiculous to be wasting time speculating about something that may never happen," he said.

As a member's bill it would not be debated unless drawn from a ballot.

"In the meantime it is no different from the countless other proposals on all sorts of topics floating around."

The Maori Party's bill followed legislation passed by the Government in reaction to a Court of Appeal ruling that it was potentially possible for Maori to gain private titles to the country's foreshore and seabed.

- NZPA