By Duncan Garner
The Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson has made some major concessions tonight on the Government's proposals on the foreshore and seabed.
Mr Finlayson has told TV3's The Nation how Maori may be able to build hotels on the foreshore - and stop others from developments unless money changes hands.
The Government is out selling its new proposals for the future of the country's foreshore and seabed.
The current Crown ownership of New Zealand’s beaches antagonises Maori and National wants to put it into what's called “public domain”.
Some iwi will then get the right to seek what's called “Customary Title” - and today on The Nation the Government spelt out what that means.
“[What is customary title?] It's a constrained form of property right it doesn't inhibit public access it's unable to be sold,” says Finlayson.
So we asked Finlayson - could it mean a hapu or iwi awarded Customary title, team up with wealthy investors Chinese investors and build hotels on the foreshore the iwi has title to.
“[Would Maori with customary title be able to get away with that?] Oh yes but they would be subject to the RMA and other pieces of legislation it's not proposed that they have self governing entity.
The proposals also give coastal iwi with customary title major rights to veto developments - like marinas.
Mr Finlayson says like normal business - money could change hands to make sure developments go ahead.
“We'll I’d expect in the normal course of these things there'd be a negotiation,” he says.
Labour stopped Maori going to the court to seek Customary Title in 2004.
National will overturn that - but in a major development Mr Finlayson says iwi should by-pass the courts and prove their case to him personally.
“I'd be much happier to negotiate with people and if these things can be sorted out through negotiations than that's great,” he says.
The controversial 2004 law also vested all minerals around the coastline with the Crown.
National now it appears willing to compromise and hand some minerals back into the hands of Maori with “Customary Title”.
“I can rule out petrol, gold silver uranium I'm prepared to listen to other people about those other minerals,” says Mr Finlayson.
He says he's already talked to Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee about the compromise.
And the Government will confirm all the Foreshore and Seabed changes by the end of May.
3 News