Hikoi to reach Parliament tomorrow ahead of Thursday vote

The seabed and foreshore hikoi marches along The Strand in Tauranga. Photo / APM

A hikoi opposed to contentious new foreshore and seabed legislation will reach Parliament tomorrow ahead of a vote that could see the bill become law on Thursday.

The Government and the Maori Party had hoped to have the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill passed last week, but ACT and Labour used delaying tactics in Parliament to push the vote forward to this week.

Delaying the bill has given time for a protest hikoi of about 100 people, which left Cape Reinga on Monday, to reach Parliament before it becomes law.

The hikoi was due to arrive at Takapuwahia Marae in Porirua this afternoon, and would head to Parliament tomorrow after congregating at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa at 11am.

The Marine and Coastal Area Bill repeals the 2004 Foreshore and Seabed Act and replaces it with legislation that restores to Maori the right to seek customary title to parts of the coastline through the High Court or by negotiation with the Government.

Voting last week on scores of amendments introduced by opponents of the bill, and all defeated, wasted enough time to delay the bill's committee stage, pushing it onto tomorrow's agenda.

Government bills won't be debated on Wednesday and the bill is now expected to have its third reading, the final stage, on Thursday.

National, the Maori Party and United Future support the bill, giving the Government a slender majority, while the other major parties oppose it for different reasons.

Labour says it won't deliver a durable settlement because it doesn't have widespread support, ACT argues it gives preferential treatment to Maori, and the Greens say it is discriminatory to Maori.

The bill is also opposed by independent MP Hone Harawira, who quit the Maori Party last month mainly over his outspoken criticism of the legislation and his claims that the Government was passing anti-Maori laws.

- NZPA