'Secrecy' in seabed talks upsets Dunne

By AUDREY YOUNG

United Future leader Peter Dunne has joined the chorus of politicians calling for greater transparency over foreshore and seabed negotiations.

"It is simply not good enough that senior ministers negotiate secretly with their own Maori MPs on this issue, while ordinary New Zealand families are left wondering whether they can freely go to the beach or cast a fishing line into the water," he said.

United Future would support any legislation that confirmed the current status of the foreshore and seabed for all New Zealanders and made clear that no additional restrictions would be placed on access.

"The uncertainty is bad for the country and it's time the Government spoke openly about just what is really going on."

Mr Dunne was speaking about the Government response to a Court of Appeal decision, allowing iwi to pursue a claim to customary title to the Marlborough foreshore and seabed in the Maori Land Court.

After Maori outrage at the Government's original intention to assert Crown ownership in law, a special committee of Cabinet ministers and Labour Maori MPs is trying to reach a compromise.

Key members, including Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen and Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia, are away from work this week, but Mr Horomia plans to attend a national hui on the issue at Paeroa on Saturday. The New Zealand Maori Council will meet in Auckland tomorrow specifically on the issue, before heading to the hui.

National leader Bill English criticised the Government's decision this week not to reserve its option of taking the case to the Privy Council, as a co-respondent, the Marlborough District Council, has done.

He said Prime Minister Helen Clark had "passed the buck to the Marlborough District ratepayers".