Vote Taken 'to Avoid Key Debate'

By Rebecca Todd
The Press
Tuesday, 18 September 2007

The Government voted against a United Nations declaration to avoid debate on ownership of the foreshore and seabed, the Maori Party says.

The UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples last Thursday. New Zealand was one of only four countries to vote against the text, along with Canada, Australia and the United States.

The declaration outlines the rights of the world's estimated 370 million indigenous people and outlaws discrimination.

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples said the Government was worried about opening itself up to more claims from Maori. "The foreshore and seabed is a very good example where their legislation stopped due process," he said. "If the declaration was passed it would have been used by different groups to pressure the Government for rights that have been disallowed."

Sharples said a "yes" vote would have signalled Government recognition of the concept of an indigenous group, as opposed to different races. "It's not about Maori being a race; it's about an indigenous culture belonging here," he said.

It was shameful for New Zealand to be grouped with the US and Australia, both of which had terrible indigenous rights records, he said.

Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia said the declaration was incompatible with New Zealand laws and its democratic process. Parts of it ignored reality and would be impossible to implement, he said. Article 26 stated indigenous peoples had the right to the lands, territories and resources they traditionally owned or occupied. Horomia said this would potentially cover the whole of New Zealand. He would not comment on whether the Government was concerned about a resurgence of the foreshore-seabed debate.

Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu chairman Mark Solomon said he was disappointed, but not surprised, at the decision. "This is just another instance that illustrates the Labour Government's poor attitude to the indigenous rights of Maori," he said. "New Zealand is now forfeiting its position as a world leader in indigenous rights and race relations issues generally."

Green Party Maori affairs spokeswoman Metiria Turei asked why the Government would refuse to defend the rights of indigenous people.