By Laura Frykberg
The replacement for Labour's Foreshore and Seabed Act has been approved by Parliament tonight.
The Marine and Coastal Area Bill passed its third reading 63 votes to 56, but not without the ACT Party – which opposes the bill – trying to sabotage the vote.
It was all smiles from the Maori Party tonight, celebrating at Wellington's Rugby World Cup hub the wharewaka.
After seven years of battle to get coastal legislation through Parliament it approves of, the war has finally been won.
“I think it provides a just balance for all New Zealanders and it restores the right of access for Maori to go to court... it repeals the 2004 Act,” says Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson.
But earlier the smiles were harder to come by as the ACT Party attempted to stall voting during parliamentary question time – lodging some 700 questions to members.
It’s called filibustering; the use of obstructionist tactics, especially prolonged speech making – in this case to delay legislation.
But ACT hadn't done its homework. The Speaker found their questions targeted members who weren't sitting in the House.
“Questions one to 20 are addressed to the chairman of the commerce committee, it is my understanding that the Honourable Lianne Dalzeil is not present in the chamber and those questions are therefore postponed,” Dr Lockwood Smith said.
And despite ACT's objection, the seasoned Speaker had no time for its antics.
And while the bill was passed, there was still strong opposition to it.
“This bill is a betrayal and Maori people have been sold out today by no one other than Tariana Turia,” Labour MP Shane Jones said.
Independent MP Hone Harawira was also vocal in opposition.
“You know deep in your hearts that you're wrong,” he said. “And in those moments when you have only yourself to answer to, you even acknowledge that you might be wrong, but you blindly carry on your course of destruction because you're stubborn.”
But there was no sign of any regret amongst the Maori Party tonight – they are winners and the bill they fought so hard for is now law.
3 News