Adrian Rurawhe: Maori join others against secret trade agreement

Labour's Te Tai Hauauru candidate Adrian Rurawhe .May 2014 Wanganui Chronicle Photograph by Lewis Gardner

TANGATA whenua is making its voice heard on the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).

We in Labour have been very clear about the place of Treaty [of Waitangi] rights in the context of the TPP. So where will Te Tiriti o Waitangi sit under the TPP?

Tangata whenua has taken its concerns to the Waitangi Tribunal, where Mike Heron QC said the Crown had "consulted widely, including taking advice from Te Puni Kokiri and Maori industry". But Maori are saying they have never been consulted.

It was reported that Dr Paparangi Reid's lawyer, Cathy Ertell, said the Crown seemed unable to justify its position. She was quoted as saying: "It's like we can't tell you, but you've got to trust us and we're trying our best but we don't know what we're trying to do, and we won't talk to you because we can't."

The Government says the public is misinformed, but the TPP is being negotiated in secret. In the Labour Party we say that the National Government must release the TPP text before making a final decision whether or not to commit New Zealand to it.

Our land, dairy and medicines are up for grabs in these negotiations, but New Zealanders should be a part of the next round of discussions.

Labour has five key principles and they are non-negotiable bottom lines to protect New Zealand's interests when the TPP finally makes it to Parliament.

Pharmac must be protected. Corporations cannot successfully sue the Government for regulating in the public interest. New Zealand maintains the right to restrict sales of farmland and housing to non-resident foreign buyers. The Treaty of Waitangi must be upheld and meaningful gains are made for our farmers in tariff reductions and market access.

People I have spoken to have strongly expressed their opposition to the TPP. They have told me they are concerned that it will seriously harm public health, because of increased Pharmac costs. They are also concerned more of our farmlands will be sold off to overseas interests. And there is concern that our sovereignty will be compromised.

The opposition in the US State of Hawai'i against TPP is as strong as anywhere.

Professor Kaleikoa Ka'eo of Maui College specifically says, "The TPP is a threat to our sovereignty as Native Hawaiians, and as human beings. This secret trade agreement would allow corporations to control decisions about how we live without any accountability to us, the people of this land."

In the absence of a formal NZ constitution, clearly the Treaty of Waitangi will be ignored or overridden.

Labour will carefully consider the impact of the draft TPP agreement on New Zealand's interests, and we will not support the TPP unless it protects New Zealand's sovereignty and is in the best interests of New Zealanders.

The United Nations Human Rights Office (UNHRO) states there is a legitimate concern that both bilateral and multilateral investment treaties might aggravate the problem of extreme poverty, jeopardise fair and efficient foreign debt renegotiation and affect the rights of indigenous peoples, minorities, those with disabilities, the elderly and others in vulnerable situations.