Maori try to pull criticism of emissions trading plan

Rahui Katene. Photo / Supplied

The Maori Party tried to withdraw a report believed to be critical of National's plans for an emissions trading scheme as its negotiations with the party around the scheme intensified.

National needs either Act or the Maori Party to support any legislation changing the emission trading scheme if Labour will not support it.

Yesterday morning, the Maori Party tried to withdraw a minority report prepared for the select committee reviewing the emissions trading scheme, just hours before the full report was due before Parliament.

However it is understood last night that the Clerk of the House told the party it could not do so.

The Maori Party is understood to be National's preferred choice to support the scheme. Maori MP Rahui Katene told iwi leaders earlier this month she was negotiating with National over the issue when she met the Iwi Leadership Group for Climate Change to seek feedback on whether to support National's changes.

Labour MP David Parker said the Maori Party's attempt to withdraw its report was clearly the result of "a political deal".

The select committee chair, Peter Dunne, will review whether the Maori Party report can be withdrawn after objections from Mr Parker and Green MP Jeanette Fitzsimons. Mr Parker said it was a clear breach of select committee proceedings to try to withdraw a minority report after the committee had directed it be tabled in Parliament. There are three other minority reports - from Labour, Act and the Green Party - illustrating the difficulty National has in getting support for any changes.

Maori Party MPs voted against the emissions scheme last year, partly because they said it did not provide enough environmental protection. However, any deal this time is likely to indicate it has made gains in the main areas for concern for Maori. Iwi have pushed for Maori land and assets, such as forestry, to be excluded because significant deforestation liabilities would reduce their value and restrict their ability to use the land for other purposes.

While more recent settlements and negotiations, including Treelords and Te Tau Ihu's agreement, have provision for an emissions trading scheme, it was not taken into account in older settlements.

The Maori Party has advocated for a Treaty of Waitangi clause to be inserted in any legislation and for the value of settlements which will be affected by a scheme to be protected.

National has delayed the 2008 entry of the forestry sector into the scheme while it works on a review. Mr Parker also tried to table the minority report yesterday, but was blocked by the Maori Party.