Fighting Foreign Corporate Control Bill,
Fletcher Tabuteau, NZ First
Crown fights TPPA Maori hearing
08 Jul 2015 07:30 AM
http://www.waateanews.com/Waatea+News.html?story_id=OTkyMg%3D%3D&v=499#.VZwtBwjoztI.facebook
The crown has told the Waitangi Tribunal there is no point holding an urgent inquiry into claims against the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement.
The tribunal is considering what it should do with a claim by Papaarangi Reid, Moana Jackson and others that signing up the massive trade deal would compromise the crown’s ability to uphold the Treaty of Waitangi.
Other iwi groups asked to join in.
In its initial response, crown law says the TPPA could be agreed this month, so it is not realistic to conduct a meaningful inquiry and report before it is signed.
It says making foreign policy is consistent with the Crown's kawanatanga right under the treaty, and in any case it took reasonable steps to inform itself of Maori interests
Claimants have not demonstrated that significant and irreversible prejudice will be caused, and New Zealand has insisted that a robust Treay of Waitangi exceptions clause be included in the document.
Crown Law says many of the concerns of claimants are unfounded, as can be seen by the successful implementation of existing free trade agreements with no prejudice to Maori, and the fact that New Zealand has not yet needed to invoke the Treaty of Waitangi exceptions provision.
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Iwi groups join Tribunal's TPP claim
Updated at 7:55 pm on 6 July 2015
Lois Williams, Te Manu Korihi - lois.williams@radionz.co.nz
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/278090/iwi-groups-join-tribunal's-tpp-claim
At least 10 groups from iwi around the country have asked to join a Waitangi Tribunal claim challenging New Zealand's involvement in the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.
Claimants, including Moana Jackson, Hone Harawira, Angeline Greensill and Moana Maniapoto lodged the initial application for an urgent hearing on the issue last month.
The lawyer for the Tai Tokerau District Maori Council, Gerald Sharrock, said the council was worried the TPP could constrain the powers of the tribunal itself, and its power to assign guardianship over indigenous flora and fauna.
But he said the underlying issue was the country's autonomy and sovereignty.
Mr Sharrock said the Government's secrecy over the deal flouted the fundamentals of the Treaty of Waitangi and there was a serious question as to the power of the Crown to enter into the TPP without engaging its treaty partners.
The council believed the Government should also be consulting Pakeha citizens about the TPP, but Mr Sharrock said the Government was opposing its request.
The Crown had told the Waitangi Tribunal an agreement on the TPP could be reached this month, and there was no realistic window of time for an inquiry.
It said the Government had the kawanatanga [governorship] to make foreign policy under Article 1 of the treaty and it had taken reasonable steps to inform itself of Maori interests.
The tribunal also said the Crown had a robust Treaty of Waitangi exceptions clause, which was in all New Zealand free trade agreements, and it protected the Crown's ability to meet its treaty obligations.
NO Trans Pacific Partnership
