“We will deal with the foreshore issue by legislating to return to the previous status quo – the settled legal situation before the Court of Appeal decision. That is a position where for the most part the Crown owned the foreshore. In so far as there was uncertainty about the situation before, we will clarify the position. Public ownership leaves room for recognising limited customary rights, but we will not allow customary title. If this Government issues such title, we will revoke it.” http://www.national.org.nz/speech_article.aspx?ArticleID=1614

The reference to the Court of Appeal was their decision to allow the Maori Court to settle the issue. national were firmly OPPOSED to this as outlined above.

It is National who created the “storm in a tea cup” which Labour cowardly pandered to to try to wrestle back the peoeple who blithely lapped up the Nat rheoric. I thought, and now am more certain that Guyon’s “summary” this morning rewrote history on this debate, by leaving national’s part in it, well, out .

One of the reasons what is to follow by way of policy is fascinating is that National, previously, wanted to circumvent the Courts right to test customary right in the Maori Court. It (the court of appeal decision) does not, and never did guarantee customary rights would follow as day follows night.

So, how far have the MP and National moved? I hoped it is to a consensus which achieves what everyone wants. It does, however require a HUGE shift from both Nats and MP from their 2004 positions.

Didn’t National turn it into a one people one nation affair, and were NOT happy for the Maori Court to be left to deal with it?

As I say this is Guyon’s job, not mine, so my memory could be way off on this, and I may have confused issues.

@Rebecca. I think that you’re right about the Maori Party. The strength of the Maori Party rises and falls on the F & S. Either way if Maori get the F & S or not the Maori Party is finished.

However their policy platform of Whanau Ora is a good idea. If Whanau Ora worked we would save money down the line (ie emergency services, justice, welfare etc). People can complain about the cost of Whanau Ora, but we’re already paying for Maori on the general system, and it’s not working.

The downside is that the Maori Party has put WO on the back burner behind the F & S. This I can’t figure out. How can land be more important than tangata (people)?

I’ve been around long enough to know that wa sis best for me wont work for most people.

Trevor well said. I personally like the principle of the S & F legislation but do however, feel that it goes too far and would like to see it amended so that it is more balanced.

I can’t see National doing anything to be honest – they appear to be constantly chasing their tail when it comes to all the major issues.

Just think back to Labour’s first term and how you managed to show by the second term that you had achieved everything on your pledge card. National doesn’t even come close to this. Yes they inherited some very faulty policies and systems, but they don’t even seem to have concrete PLANS when it comes to addressing these things.