United Future withdraws support for foreshore, seabed

1.00pm

The Government appears to have done a deal with New Zealand First over the foreshore and seabed.

Last-minute wrangling this morning between the Government and two contenders for support, NZ First and United Future, went down to the wire over whether ownership would be vested in the Crown or the public domain.

NZ First leader Winston Peters appears to have won after United Future, which wanted ownership to be in the public domain, withdrew support.

NZPA understands United withdrew support because the Government opted for Crown ownership -- NZ First's preference.

United Future leader Peter Dunne said the Government's inability to control its own caucus had forced it into making "major last-minute changes".

"The removal of the concept of public domain, or ownership, from the legislation means that United Future can no longer support the legislation," he said.

United Future had consistently argued for public ownership in order to prevent future governments selling or giving away parts of the foreshore and seabed.

"We know that Labour would have retained that wording in the legislation if it had not been for the dishonourable behaviour of three of its own caucus."

Mr Dunne was referring to Maori MPs Tariana Turia and Nanaia Mahuta, and Wairarapa MP Georgina Beyer, who are at odds with their colleagues on the issue.

Mrs Turia and Ms Mahuta had indicated for some time they did not support the legislation but Ms Beyer joined them yesterday, saying she would seek caucus permission to abstain from voting on the issue.

That has forced the Government to look to NZ First for support to ensure it has enough votes to pass the legislation.

Earlier today Ms Beyer said she had not meant to force the Government into that position.

She told NZPA soon after United Future's announcement that she would not be commenting further on the issue.

Mrs Turia and Ms Mahuta are likely to either abstain or vote against the legislation, and Ms Beyer's vote also remains in question.

With NZ First's support, and taking away those three dissenting MPs, the Government will have 64 votes -- three more than needed to pass legislation.


- NZPA