Angry blast awaits Government at hui

Iwi and hapu will launch a multi-pronged assault on the Government this week, using angry confrontations at consultation hui to push for a more acceptable solution to the foreshore and seabed issue.

The first two of 11 Government consultation hui will be held on Thursday and Friday this week, in Gisborne and the Bay of Plenty.

They follow a national hui at Omaka over the weekend that affirmed the decision of an earlier national hui in Hauraki to firmly reject the Government's foreshore and seabed proposals.

Treaty Tribes spokesman Harry Mikaere summed up the mood at Omaka: "This is a blueprint for extinguishing our rights and no amount of creative language changes that fact."

But while anger continued to be directed at the Government and it was made clear that MPs are in for a tough time during the consultation hui, organisers were keen to stress that consensus was building towards developing strategies for resolution.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said through a spokesman yesterday that the Government wanted to consult widely and "constructive views are welcome".

But the Government's bottom line - centred on preventing whanau and hapu gaining freehold title to foreshore and seabed - was "non-negotiable".

About 300 people attended the hui, organised by Te Tau Ihu iwi, where they threw their weight behind steering group Te Ope Mana a Tai, established by Te Tau Ihu and the Waitangi Fisheries Commission.

Among the resolutions passed was support for Te Ope "as a mechanism for moving forward in an inclusive and co-operative manner", and support for expanding its membership.

This boosts Te Ope's desire to take a lead role in negotiations with the Government, but a number of key iwi and hapu were not represented at the hui and group spokesman Paul Morgan acknowledged that wider support was necessary.

He warned that iwi and hapu had just 14 weeks before the Government introduced its legislation, "so it's absolutely important that we have unity of mind".

While another resolution supported engagement with the Government, some speakers at the hui had earlier either rejected or voiced scepticism about this.

Calls for constitutional change were stronger than at Hauraki, and not restricted to the usual advocates.

The Government's Maori MPs came in for heavy flak and many speakers reignited the call for a Maori party to be established, saying it was the only vehicle for Maori political aspirations.

Activist Titewhai Harawira called for the Government to be shut out of marae where they planned to hold hui.

But Te Ope member Tutekawa Wyllie said iwi and hapu should instead "take control" of the consultation hui and ensure that the Government understood the strength of their passion.

Tribal representatives said they were considering a range of strategies for the hui. Mr Morgan said boycotts were an option, but unlikely given that some people wanted to "vent their spleen" and others wanted to seek solutions.

Te Ope Mana a Tai will attend the hui as part of its drive to spread information and build support.

National MP Georgina te Heuheu said the Government's Maori MPs continued to be delivered a clear message that their people were unhappy with them.

"The dying legacy of the Government's Maori MPs will be the extinguishment of the customary rights of Maori who voted them in."

Te Tai Tonga MP Mahara Okeroa and Tainui MP Nanaia Mahuta were the only Government MPs at the hui.

Ms Mahuta said "if the views represented at both Hauraki and Omaka are resonated at all meetings, then it will be beholden on us [the Government] to ensure they are taken on board".

But Mr Okeroa said it was too early to say whether the hui views were widely shared. A number of iwi were not at the hui and it was unclear if some of the speakers represented anyone.

Asked if any Maori MPs would cross the House, he said he did not believe any were talking about it.

The Government will need the support of the Greens or United Future to pass the legislation, but both are calling for changes.

Mr Morgan said the Greens were the most respectful of iwi and hapu aspirations and could help to negotiate a way forward.

United Future leader Peter Dunne yesterday refused to say whether his party would back the proposals, but Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said the Government had already shifted ground and would continue to do so.