NZ Centre for Political Research

This week's poll asks:

Should the present Foreshore and Seabed Act be repealed in favour of the proposal put forward by National and the Maori Party?

*This could be the watershed with unimaginable consequences!! Shirley

*No! I can't believe that National are prepared to risk inciting civil unrest to appease a handful of activists. Gordon

*One rule for all seperate rules talking of customary rights (whatever they are) is divisive and racist. Wolfgang

*The status quo should remain as all the persons involved have ulterior motives and the likelihood of further blackmail deals. A & B

*There is no logical reason, National would be doing this. Smells very fishy if you ask the typical NZ. Is John Key trying to commit political suicide. Chris

*I would have voted yes but now cannot in the light of the Nat party supporting the U.N. declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People. In spite of the P.M,s assurance that this is merely aspirational no less a person than Honi Harawira (He who regards people like me as m----F---s) believes it is more than that and will feature in treaty claim negociations. The way the ratification process was handled was underhand bordering on dishonest. Peter

*We all own the forshore & Sea Bed not one Group, the Key lot have to get real I think they are out of touch with the General Public, they have lost the plot. Geoff

*That is why Labour got dumped. Maori should have there day in court. Chris

*I believe in one people, one law and equal opportunity for all New Zealander's...Everyone has an equal opportunity for education, development, progress, good health and contribution in our NZ society... However, some of our population chose not to take up these opportunities and are now considered disadvantaged... And, it is their choice! Repealing the current Act will only add to the opportunities offered to the 'something for nothing takers' that have developed in our society...Les

*The NZ foreshore and seabed belongs to all Kiwi's... Who should have equal opportunity to visit, enjoy and use it... One law and equal opportunity for all citizens of our great country...Tricia

*This National Govt is a big worry. People in general just don't seem to get it! His sneakiness should be adhered to....Jan

*There should be no furtherance to the racial apartheid at present afflicting all non-maori in NZ. Grahame

*Nobody owns the land we are only caretakers until we leave this earth. Nobody can take it with us as we come in with nothing & go out with nothing. Beverly

*Why does it need to be changed? Average maori get nothing anyway it all goes to the top tribe members just drive through Huntly to see this. Alan

*I'm just about sick of John Key and his buddies pandering to Maori, everything this Government does has an ulterior motive.
No wonder Kiwis are rapidly disappearing over the horizon. Tony

*I have already written to the Govt expressing my opposition and concern at their proposal and the repeal of the seabed & foreshore legislation. John

*The national party caters too much to the Maori party, we are supposed to be one people, obviously we are not. Jackie

*National is selling this country down the drain. It is time the Maori are made to stop bankrupting and bullying this country of OURS. Glan

*No way - and National are deceiving the public by saying that Maori control won't change anything. Bruce

*No way should the law be changed. It has always been in Crown ownership and that's the way ot should stay. It is not a resource to be exploited by the greedy - it should be protected and remain available for all New Zealanders. Sue

*Absolutely not. This will be the next thing for exploitation by the Maori sovereignity-movers along with and after the Treaty of Waitangi settlements cease in 2014- if that ever happens! Monica

*I am strongly against the proposal as I consider we are all New Zealanders. This idea is a very dangerous one which will devide our country forever. Angus

Now that the Attorney-General’s series of information hui and public meetings throughout the country on the review of the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 has concluded, hopefully more people will have become aware of what a sham these meetings have been.

The meetings were poorly advertised (one notice only in Wellington, in tiny type amongst the Public Notices in the DominionPost). They were described as “opportunities for people to discuss the Government’s proposals”.

However, those people like myself who naively attended the public meeting in Wellington ready to discuss the main issue of whether or not the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004 should be repealed were to be bitterly disappointed. At the start of the meeting, the public were told that the sole purpose of the meeting was for the Attorney-General, Hon Christopher Finlayson, to present and explain the proposals prepared by the Government to replace the current 2004 Act, and that all discussion would be confined to the details of these alternative proposals.

This immediately precluded any discussion of the major issue – and for anyone, like myself, who believed that the Act should not be repealed, the entire meeting was pointless.

In the course of his presentation – which consisted of a summary of the material which was on the Ministry of Justice website – Mr Finlayson stated that “most people” would agree that the 2004 Act was unsatisfactory, and he then proceeded on the assumption that the Act would be repealed.

As an indication of the spirit of the meeting, one elderly gentleman made a well presented appeal to Mr Finlayson, asking if it was not time to stop all this confrontation and try to find a way for all New Zealanders to be equal. Mr Finlayson replied that there were various forms of equality: One was equality before the law, but there was another form which did not mean sameness, but meant different things to different people. (Where have I heard this before? “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others”.)

Obviously none of these meetings can be claimed by Mr Finlayson to be “public consultation” on the repeal issue. Once general discussion had been disallowed, the only form of comment and protest left to the public was to make a submission directly to the Ministry of Justice – either on the 12-page form available on the website (if you could find it), or in a submission of one’s own making – and time allowed for making submissions is significantly short.

This week's poll asks:

Should the present Foreshore and Seabed Act be repealed in favour of the proposal put forward by National and the Maori Party?

*I am very strongly opposed to the present foreshore and seabed Act be changed. It is my belief that the shore and seabed belong not to any one party, but to all New Zealanders. Beverley

*Absolutely Not! I went to the so called meeting and heard Finlayson speak. Since he was defensive most of the evening, he truly was not interested what the public had to say unless it aligned with his agenda. Not a good sign. Jack

*This is Maori tribalism writ large. Exploiters perpetuating control of their "underclass", underachievers. Max

*So far it all seems like a dirty little secret between the two behind closed doors. Melida

*If they cant make it any better then they should leave it the hell alone,its a dogs breakfast. Steve

*NO NO NO !!! There is something distressingly sinister about all these deals National are doing to keep the Maori Party happy. Simple and maybe uncomfortable fact: Labour got it right, National are busily getting it horribly wrong. Labour knowingly paid a significant political price on behalf of the majority of NZers. Even with a greater majority, National lack the balls to provide the same level of service. John

*Regarding the Foreshore and Seabed Act, after the secret devious way that National went about signing the United Nations Declaration on the rights of Indigenous People. I have no confidence that this Government will not sell the rights of all new Zealander have to free and unfettered access the foreshore and seabed, there is more to this that just access to the beach. The recent announcement that Tuhoi might be given full ownership to the Urewera National Park and even the very notion the government is considering granting a form of self government for this group is clearly something they have on their agenda. At no time prior to the last election did I read anything or see policy along these lines, they have no mandate for this, this kind of separatism must not be allowed to proceed. Rob

*As a national voter last time, I am utterly disillusioned with it. Barry

*Majority must rule. For the long term protection of NZ way of life keep the status quo. What a potential for splitting this country. How can you give air/12km coastal rights to a bunch of tibal agitators and expect the large majority to respect or accept this, the Maori and the Chinese unthinkable, Aussie here we come. In my mind major negatives abound, tell me are there any positives. David

*The treaty settlements are difficult enough without opening this up as well. Colin

*If we allow the National Government to change the Foreshore and Seabed Act we will put a rope around the necks of all New Zealanders. Couple this Act with John Key covertly signing the UN Indigenous Peoples document and we are giving Maori radicals the ability to claim for any tribal claim they wish to dream up. Ernest

*Already, the likes of Hone Harawira are assuming it's done deal that they own the foreshore and seabed and *&%@+ everyone else. New Zealand has nothing to do with it - just greed, greed, greed and that includes POWER. Christine

*1. Mr Key is copying Helen Clark by preparing the ground for a position in the UN at the expense of the NZ Electorate.
2. Unfortunately for NZ the Maori people are becoming racist, greedy and are exploiting political power they should not have.
3. The F & S dispute is a result of 11% of the population making national policy for 89% of the population who are not permitted to oppose or otherwise in relation to the matter. Nick

This week's poll asks:

Should the present Foreshore and Seabed Act be repealed in favour of the proposal put forward by National and the Maori Party?

*If it aint broke don't fix it! What is it with this Government - they are stirring up so much racism it is hard to believe - and I thought Labour was bad enough. Finlayson should be sacked and while Key is leader of the Nats I will be reluctant to vote National again. Seems he wants to rid NZ of us non-part Maori. Carolyn

*I cannot beleive that a suposedly democratically elected government could foist such blatantly racist legislation on the majority of unsuspecting NZers. Roerick

*This is a proposal of huge constitutional significance, being rushed through without mandate or adequate disemination or opportunity to consider and submit. Trevor

*The earth is the Lord's. We hold it in trust for Him. We need to share the land equally and in harmony with our Creator Lord. Catherine

*Rodney Hide is not popular with the general NZ public, the only reason Key is getting good pole results is that the other contenders don't rate, ACT urgently needs to look at this if New Zealand is to survive, we are rapidly getting to the point of no return. John

*Freedom of access to our beaches is a fundemental right of all New Zealanders. Rick

*I am sick and tied of all the foriengers that call themselves New Zealands crying wolf. As a fifth generation pakeha with a Maaori name I say it is about time they (the Maaori) take over control of not only seabeds and foreshore but all crown lands. Rawiri

*Again no consultation whatsoever. As with the Indigenous Rights signing Our wishes are ignored. Brian

*Foreshore & seabed should belong to all Nzers. Devisive act. Happy with Maori having customery rights. Alex

*The National Government has been a disaster with its handling of Maori affairs and has divided the country. Peter

*A fair and just policy and should be left as is, it should be for all NZ citizens. Alfred

*I don't think most New Zealanders realize the predicament we are getting our selves into. John Key is not who and what i voted for (The philosophy, Religion or what ever you would like to call it), I did vote for national much to my now dismay. David

*It must be held and owned by all New Zealanders not a few. When the Treaty of Waitangi was signed there was no clause to say that the maori population would have control over all land. Bruce

*The foreshore & seabed should belong to the Crown. Policies based on race have no place in New Zealand. Charles

*Definitely not...Our Foreshore & the Seabed is owned by all New Zealanders the majority being at least 6th Generation. NZ is our home country too! it is our BIRTHRIGHT, our children & our children's children for generations to come. If the Government keeps on as it's doing, the citizens loyalty to this country will be even more diluted than it is already. This, or any Government in the future has no right to take that away from us or our children. Kathy

*This is yet another racist proposal, and would take us yet another step towards cementing our constitution as one structured for apartheid. The treaty of Waitangi as far as I can see was never, EVER envisaged to be interpreted in this way. This would be an outright abdication of the Government's proper responsibilities. It is enough to make one despair of anything ever going in the direction of common sense and us becoming "One people". I am appalled that the government is even contemplating this move. Paul

*My emotion is turning form annoyance at the Maori grievance industry to outright anger at the latest land grab! This doesn't bode well for race relations! Murray

*The underhand way of going about this is worrying for the whole population. What's the rush! Valerie

*Why is our government even considering this proposal, in the light of potential loss of equal rights for all New Zealanders in favour of increasing the rights of the minority. It can only be racism in reverse! Colleen

*New Zealander are going to loose their rights as my grand children are ninth geration we are all are New Zealanders. John Key is another Helen Clark with trouses you are a prime Minister you have no honesty you lied to the national voters Lance

*This isue should never have been bought up in the first place its a lot of crap the foreshore and seabed belongs to no one its there for all to enjoy not for greedy basteds scheming and kaniving. Clark

*I am very strongly opposed to the present foreshore and seabed Act be changed. It is my belief that the shore and seabed belong not to any one party, but to all New Zealanders. Beverley

*The foreshore and seabed needs to be protected from everyone for everyone! Kevin

*Absolutely Not! I went to the so called meeting and heard Finlayson speak. Since he was defensive most of the evening, he truly was not interested what the public had to say unless it aligned with his agenda. Not a good sign. Jack

This week's poll asks:

Should the present Foreshore and Seabed Act be repealed in favour of the proposal put forward by National and the Maori Party?

*The idea of a small group of New Zealanders being given the sole right to exploit OUR foreshoe and seabed makes me sick in my stomach. And Government who allows this should be wiped from our political future. Jasmine

*I think the Maoris have been given more than enough and offer nothing in return. Rex

*We should all be equal. That means equal rights in every way. NZ remains poor because so much is given to Maori for all their calims. Robina

*With the bag of worms that will be opened up if National go ahead as is suggested is too dreadful to contemplate. There must be a referendum. John

*All New Zealanders irrespective of race should hold sovereignty through the Crown. Graham

*National in opposition campaigned against Maori privilege. Why has this changed now National is Govt? Margaret

*What is going on? I didn't vote for this. Is John key part of the New World Order? Is he a secret leftie? Yes I am worried. Very much so. I am afraid that it is a world wide problem. Robert

*This action displays complete disrespect of all New Zealanders, regardless of their political or ethnic backgrounds. It shows how little regard they have for the people they were elected to serve. Jo

*As a Kiwi of mixed Euro Maori descent I feel we are being let down by Key and our present political leadership. The whole process has become to one sided. Please Mr Key let us all be allowed to become part of the process a democratic right surely. Peter

*Unleavened-bread-sharples and all of his RACIST brown-boy mates need to be given a wake-up call. REAL New Zealanders (the ones who WORK and pay taxes so he and his WHINGING, FUZZY, BLUDGER BRETHREN can be on a "benefit") are growing tired of their MOARI APARTHEID and their MOARI RACISM. Queen Victoria TOOK sovereignty of New Zealand from the moari just like all those MOARI IMMIGRANTS who sailed here in their seven canoes and then ate the REAL "people of the land". And that is where the entirety of New Zealand should be: vested in The Crown. The same as it has been for nearly 200 years. So, Itty-bitty-tama, Hone-the-tool and Unleavened bread: GET OVER YOURSELVES! Time for everyone in New Zealand who is NZ born of NZ born parents to start thinking about living here together as ONE nation instead of two separate races under MOARI APARTHEID. So, NO to Spineless-Key and his Labour Party policies. And NO to continued moari racism and apartheid. Mark

*No one owns the Foreshore and Seabed, it should be left alone, I am very dissapointed in National, they are leading us down the path of seperatism. I have always voted National but I hate to say, I think Labour had the right philosophy. James

*The seabed and foreshore should be held in perpetuity by the crown on behalf of ALL New Zealanders. Non Maori are NOT visitors here, we have as much stake in this country as any Maori. My children have a right to live in a country where all races are equal under LAW. Mr Key is a twat and is definetly taking us down the path of separatism. He has no anchor or bottom line on any issue. My children will have to deal with the long term consequences of the seabed legislation, and the just ratified UN resolution on indigenous people? When do we become indigenous and have the same rights? After 500 years, 1000, never? The whole concept is rediculous!!!!!!!!!!! John

This week's poll asks:

Should the present Foreshore and Seabed Act be repealed in favour of the proposal put forward by National and the Maori Party?

*We are all one people. It is not just all about Maori! National is starting to move in the wrong direction. Deon

*Why does it need to be changed? So Maori can jump into bed, with (pardon the pun) Key National Supporters, so it looks as though Maori are doing it and not the National Party. Oh yes and they will agree to it, money makes Maori go round. Anabelle

*I will never vote for National again under John Key, but please provide me with a viable alternative. Until Act rids itself of R Douglas, they won't be in the running either and Labour? no thank you....Elizabeth

*The change would result in further fueling the separatism that already exists. Brian

*I have always supported National, but I won't be voting for them again with Key as leader. I think he is scared of Maoris....
Please Act, get rid of Roger Douglas and I will vote for you, you all might not remember how awful he was but most older NZ'ers do remember and we have a huge vote....Les

*One Nation, One People, the alternative is unproductive, destructive and typically does not resolve the core issue. Lionel

*This continual toadying to Maori to keep the Maori Party happy is going to destroy the National Party and probably New Zealand. Brian

*The foreshore should be as it has been for many years, open to all people and not under any particular people's supervision. Evan

*To protect all New Zealander's rights. Plus fear of the instability in the country that will follow. Percival

*John Key: Remember, you are a servant of the public! Robert

*NZ Public don't understand, we need more time to consider. Roseanne

*We are all New Zealanders, no special treatment for one race over another in our country. Miles

*It is my opinion that Maori Radicals would like nothing better than to rule New Zealand. The results of this action would be New Zealand having it's name changed to Ao Tea Roa and ending up like Zimbabwe. Bob

*It does not treat all new zealanders equally. The F&SBA should be held by the crown for all New Zealanders and not favoured to a group or individual. Greg

*I am sick of being a secondclass citizen in my own country! Roger

*We don't have to prove jack all to the united nations. John Key meets Obama and a few top yanks and he thinks his **** doesn't stink. Signing something like this which is such a large scale thing so quickly without discussing it with the rest of the country is ridiculous. Having meetings in secret and giving away our land? John Keys no better than that last dyke we had in. William

*Reverse apartheid creeping into NZ!! Jocelyn

*Change would not contribute to the harmony that now exists on this issue. Bob

This week's poll asks:

Should the present Foreshore and Seabed Act be repealed in favour of the proposal put forward by National and the Maori Party?

*A binding referendum is an absolute requirement to settle this matter for once and for all. Robin

*Sounds like out of the frying pan, into the fire! Hugh

*The present status quo seems to be working fine. Sorry maories but we are one people. We should be sharing all natural resources amongst every New Zealander. Phil

*Absolutely No from me...its been done and should be left alone as is for all Kiwis..its madness to re-visit this one...John Key is definitely on the very wrong track of most NZ people and certainly should not be for the very very few. Why fix something when it is not even broken...it works as is. Audrey

*National Govt is a dictatorship they will do it anyway for the Maori votes 2011, heaven help us ALL. Rick

*I now see Key as a closet reverse Racist! Michael

*National's proposals would tear at the very fabric of our society...The Maori Party, with it's approx 2% support is holding our country to ransom. The Maori seats have to go and it looks like National must go to the opposition benches. They cannot be trusted. Mike

*Foreshore belongs to all NZ. We cannot allow one ethnicity increased rights. Aaron

*Either John Key is very naive, which I cannot accept, or he is trying to get the Maori Radicals to go away. He will rue the day that he gave Maori licence to engage in legalised extortion ... unless of course his aim is to make them look after themselves. i.e. pay for their own Health, Education and Welfare. John's methods will either turn out to be very, very stupid or very, very clever. Because whatever is legislated will be administered by a Government Department, I think the clever idea will founder on the alter of Departmental Political deviousness. Dianna

*The Foreshore and Seabed should be vested in the Crown. That is how it is at the moment and I don't see any need for change. One can only conclude that any changes are intended to weaken the ownership of Foreshore and seabed to all New Zealanders giving an imbalance towards Maori which is what they will want but which is not going to foster good harmony between Kiwis but drive a more divisive path, one which has existed for far too long already.
If it really needs changing the last thing we need is it to be by negotiation with a minister who may or may not be there for the long term. With the Law we know what we are getting. With the Minister thereould be a change at the whim of a credit card mistake!!! Mike

*Add the nationals likely support of the UN indigenous peoples declaration, Maori will effectively have full control of the country and demand we taxpayers guarantee an easy and prosperous life style for their selected few - not for all Maori - most Maori do not appreciate this. John

*This is absolutely apalling stuff especially coming from a person who prides himself on being a lawyer. When will Chris Finlayson actually front up to those who actually put him and National into power? Hugh

*Ownership must be clear legally. Public domain is not a legal form of ownership. Rights under the Treaty were limited to Toanga and certain other properties. The SB and FS were not toanga being neither held not treasured, which are essential tests for toanga. Kelvin

*Both pieces of legislation should be dumped, and new legislation introduced that makes it very clear that the foreshore and seabed belongs to every citizen of NZ, all with equal rights of access for recreation. Its time to stop perpetuating this culture of grievience, nearly all of whihc is imagined, and cannot honestly be supporteed by facts. Bob

*Perhaps Finlayson should put his efforts into defining what is a Maori. I suspect if it required more than 50% Maori blood we would not have enough maoris to fill a telephone box. John

*To ensure free unhindered access for all NZ'ers to our beaches. Ian

*Time is needed to work through the details thoroughly. Andrew

This week's poll asks:

Should the present Foreshore and Seabed Act be repealed in favour of the proposal put forward by National and the Maori Party?

*The current Foreshore and Seabed Act appears to be working. Why change it? The only reason I can think of is because Maori want some form of racial economic preference and the National Party wants their vote in 2010. We know racial preferences in the form of "Affirmative Action" is in the process of repeal in the USA. State legislation has been repealed in California, Michigan, Nebraska and Washinton. If the politics of fear did not play a part in the USA "Affirmative Action" legislation would be deleted and factored into every American history book. Inclusion and not separation via race based politics should be the goal of all New Zealanders. Gavin

*One New Zealand for all. Bill

*The government's proposal is racist through and through and should be thrown into the gutter where it belongs. Tim

*Absolutely NOT! It is scandalous what they are proposing. Jean

*The present Act is far from perfect, but the proposed replacement is totally unacceptable. National have apparently forgotten what the wilderness looks like, it was that barren place where national backbenchers lurked under the lacklustre leadership of Bolger and Shipley, even English failed to extricate them. Now Key seems determined to ignore the the people over the smacking referendum and now ignore the people over the creation of apartide rights over the seabed. An absolute sure result of divesting seabed control away from crown ownership will be the certain electorate retailiation to consign the National party to the barren wilderness forever. If the prospect of apartide corruption over the seabed is not a sobering prospect for the electorate, then the prospect of Rodney Hide standing alone against the red femms of communist socialism must surely be. Vern

*'Rights' have always been a technique to subtract rights from others. Ian

FORESHORE AND SEABED PETITION

The Government launched its review of the foreshore and seabed just before Easter and wants submissions in by the end of the month. With only 20 working days to read and digest the radical and complex proposals that are being suggested as replacements for the current law, most New Zealanders are finding themselves locked out of the consultation process. The timeframe is far too rushed for them to make a meaningful submission by the deadline. Yet the Prime Minister has indicated that he wants to hear what New Zealanders think of the proposals.

This on-line petition organised by Dr Muriel Newman of the New Zealand Centre for Political Research is asking the Prime Minister and the Attorney General to extend the deadline for submissions on the Government's Foreshore and Seabed Review from 5pm April 30th for another two months, to close no sooner than 5pm June 30th so that the New Zealand public has a chance to participate meaningfully in the submission process.

To find out more, please visit the Foreshore and Seabed Petition website by clicking the following link: http://www.nzcpr.com/petition_fandsb.php - and to help spread the word about the petition, please copy and paste this message into an email to be sent to people in your address book who you think might be interested in the future of New Zealand's coastline.

This week's poll asks:

Should the present Foreshore and Seabed Act be repealed in favour of the proposal put forward by National and the Maori Party?

*No, no, no! This law should not be changed. I can't believe National are even considering it. They deserve to be dumped at the next election if they sell out to Maori in this way. Keith

*The law is working perfectly well. There is no call for change except from the radical Maori sovereignty brigade. The government should ignore them as they will never stop until they own the whole country. Sue

*I can't believe how National is selling out to Maori over the foreshore and seabed. It is disgraceful. What about us - they promised they were going to govern for the good of all New Zealanders - or don't we count because we aren't brown? Phillip

*The law should stay as it is. Finlayson should be sacked - and the sooner the better. He is dangerous. Tony

*These Maori activists want to get their hands on the resources - can't National see that? Surely John Key will not be overly influenced by his radical Minister. Finlayson is a disaster for NZ - he doesn't represent mainstream NZ at all. Barbara