Flavell forges ahead with Te Ture Whenua Act reform

Maori Affairs Minister Te Ururoa Flavell has surprised political opponents by introducing a Te Ture Whenua Act reform bill to Parliament, arguing that drafting changes and consultation in recent months meets the concerns of last year's Waitangi Tribunal report criticising the reform process.

The long-delayed bill seeks to improve the management and development of collectively owned Maori land, but has become a political lightning rod, with some sections of Maori opinion accusing the Maori Party of permitting a modern day land grab.

Flavell tabled the bill shortly before Parliament was due to sit on Thursday and announced the intention to proceed with legislative changes that he said had been long-sought by Maori landowners, with calls for further change dating back nearly two decades to shortly after the passage of reforms in Te Ture Whenua Act 1993.

"The call for further reform has been absolutely consistent," he said. "Much of the (Waitangi Tribunal) is dedicated to that background."

In the months since the report's publication, there had been some 22 additional hui nationwide and numerous other public events on top of engagement since 2013, when the reforms were first mooted, which Flavell said were "the most extensive of any other Bill in recent times."

An exposure draft of the legislation had been released and as many as 300 drafting changes had been made to reflect feedback.

The bill would now go to the Maori affairs select committee where it would gain further public scrutiny and could be further amended. The Cabinet had agreed to conduct further work on issues of concern, including landlocked property and paper roads.

"I am confident there is general support from Maori for the bill to go into the House," he said. "Unlike most bills, people have had the opportunity to see it and make submissions on the exposure draft before it has been introduced into the House. The tribunal was also provided with a further revised draft."

But the Labour MP for the Maori electorate of Ikaroa-Rawhiti, Meka Whaitiri accused Flavell of taking "a leaf out of this government's book: Do everything in secrecy."

"Part of (dealing with) anything as serious as Maori land reform means giving an official response for each and every one of these recommendations (from the tribunal)," she said. "Clearly he hasn't done that."

(BusinessDesk)