Crown ownership by Christmas says PM

By AUDREY YOUNG

The law vesting ownership OF the foreshore and seabed in the Crown is on track to be passed by Christmas despite glitches at the select committee stage, Helen Clark said yesterday.

The Prime Minister dismissed a suggestion the bill would also include the concept of "trusteeship", which had been actively promoted behind the scenes by Associate Maori Affairs Minister John Tamihere until he stood down from the Cabinet two weeks ago.

But Helen Clark said Mr Tamihere had been involved in some of the conference calls with Maori caucus colleagues on the issues.

The select committee considering the Foreshore and Seabed Bill is due to table its report on Friday but is widely expected to file statements from individual political parties rather than an orthodox report.

That is expected to slow the passage of the bill through the House but Helen Clark expected it to meet its Christmas deadline.

Asked if she was still committed to Crown ownership, she said she had always been "committed to ensuring that these areas are very clearly seen as public space".

"I've never been particularly exercised about how that is done."

But she expected Crown ownership to be in the bill.

Asked if the concept of trusteeship could also be included, she said: "I think the answer I have just given negates that".

Helen Clark said there was nothing embarrassing about not having a report-back from the select committee. "That is MMP politics."

Meanwhile, the Cabinet yesterday agreed to the terms of reference for the Crown to begin parallel negotiations with two eastern tribes, Ngati Porou and Te Whanau a Apanui, over the foreshore and seabed adjoining much of their tribal land.

The green light for negotiations means the Crown accepts that the iwi would have made a strong common law claim for customary title if their right to do so was not being extinguished in the legislation.

The negotiations are expected to cover issues of co-management and redress, as well as public access.

Helen Clark said the negotiations would not undermine the fundamental concept of Crown ownership.

"Any resolution by direct discussion will be consistent with the framework of the bill."