10. Hon DAVID PARKER (Labour) Link to this
to the Attorney-General
Does he agree with the recommendation of the independent ministerial review panel that if the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 is repealed, then “Reasonable public access should be defined and provided for by statute”?
Hon SIMON POWERIf the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 is amended or repealed to allow customary title to be sought for areas of seabed or foreshore, then is legislation likely to be needed to prevent the conversion of such customary titles to alienable freehold titles?
Although I cannot answer the specifics of that question in the Attorney-General’s absence, I am prepared to say I understand that the Attorney-General himself met briefly with the member at the airport this morning and offered him the opportunity to have a direct conversation about issues similar to those he has just raised.
Will the threshold tests for the establishment of customary interest in the foreshore and seabed be altered from those that currently apply under the Foreshore and Seabed Act; if so, will those new thresholds be defined in statute or left to the courts?
Those matters are part of a thorough and consultative process, which the member is welcome to join at any time.
Did representatives of Ngāti Porou request the National-led Government to honour the foreshore and seabed agreement that they reached under the existing Foreshore and Seabed Act with the previous Government, and to proceed with the resultant Ngā Rohe Moana o Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Porou Bill?