Iwi leaders call for foreshore protests

By RUTH BERRY, political reporter

Iwi leaders are calling on Maori to review their allegiance to Labour and encouraging them to "demonstrate" their rangatiratanga over the foreshore and seabed.

They are continuing to try to force the Government's Maori MPs to follow their colleagues Tariana Turia, who attended the hui, and Nanaia Mahuta and withhold support for the policy.

About 100 leaders or tribal representatives gathered at Plimmerton Beach, near Wellington, yesterday to decide how to pressure the Government. Iwi also revealed their plans for local action.

They included Te Rarawa's plan to erect a string of pou whenua (poles denoting mana whenua) across Ninety Mile Beach. Hauraki is also considering posting signs on Coromandel beaches and DoC camping grounds and putting protesters alongside key highways.

Tainui is understood to be investigating taking legal action against the Government, believing the policy breaches commitments in its treaty settlement.

The hui formed 16 resolutions, which include plans to write to all the Maori MPs demanding they support "the will of their people".

They called on Maori to "reconsider their political allegiances" and to write to the Prime Minister to convey that message.

Approaches to the Human Rights Commission are being explored and the group resolved to invite churches and other groups to act.

Te Ope Mana a Tai lawyer Grant Powell said the Government's policy was based on a misconception of iwi/hapu rights in the coastal marine area, because it failed to accept Maori had ownership interests in it.

Key details were missing from the policy, such as how regional working groups would function, criteria for recognition of customary use rights and how rights not covered would be compensated for.

There was also concern the process identified to determine right-holders would spark acrimony between groups.

Ngati Kahungunu leader Ngahiwi Tomoana said people in his region were calling for Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia to resign and threatening to picket his home and the homes of other key ministers.

Helen Clark was wrong to suggest the issue was driven by sovereignty activists. The issue was about retaining Maori collective identity.

"All the Maori MPs who have aided and abetted the loss of the last vestige of the Kahungunu estate being taken out of our hands should be punished," he said.

National MP Georgina te Heuheu said ultimately the only real tool Maori had was their vote at the next election.

Protest plans

* Ninety Mile Beach: String of poles across beach - Te Rarawa.

* Coromandel: Signs on beaches and camping grounds, protesters on main roads - Hauraki.

* Waikato: Legal action against Government - Tainui.