December 2018

And just like that December is here and another year passes us by!

We haven't taken our foot off the pedal just yet – here’s another newsletter updating the issues, with suggestions of actions you can take to help. This includes a reminder of the fast approaching deadline to make a submission on the bill to entrench the Maori seats – Friday 14th December. Please see below for more information.

Since the public is largely unaware that their local beaches have been claimed, in some cases several times over, it would be of great value if you would help to raise awareness by telling others what's going on under the disastrous Marine and Coastal Area Act. The Act is flawed in several respects, including its failure to define a critical legal test. Muriel Newman explains in an article published on the NZCPR earlier this year, see HERE.

Compounding this issue is the confusion over of the role and status of the Attorney General in the proceedings, which begs the question, “will the Government be proactively defending the public interest in the marine and coastal area, or not?” See below for more details.

At the end of the newsletter you will find a list of interesting reading. These cover a variety of topics relating to the issues we cover. I do hope you will find the time to read them over the holiday break.

The final meeting of the year is to be held 7pm Monday 10th December at 21 O’Rorke Rd, Penrose. You are welcome to join us.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a relaxing, safe and happy holiday season.

Christmas message from Democracy Action Chair, Lee Short:

"Thank you so much for your interest and support over the year. I wish all members, volunteers, donors and other supporters a safe, peaceful, and joyous Christmas. I hope you enjoy a wonderful holiday break with your loved ones, and I look forward to working with you in 2019”.

Thank you for your continued interest and support. If you have any suggestions you would like to offer, or if you need further information or help, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]

And please help spread the message by sharing our newsletters with anyone who may be interested. You can receive further updates by registering or joining us.

Kind regards,

Susan Short

[email protected]

Have your say on the push to entrench Maori seats

Dec 03, 2018

Submissions close on December 14th. Te Tai Tonga MP Rino Tirikātene, the sponsor of the bill, wants to make it more difficult to abolish the Maori seats by ensuring any changes will need the support of 75 percent of MPs rather than the current simple majority. He is actively appealing to Maori through the Maori media to make their views known, see HERE and HERE (Radio Waatea). Continue reading

Urgent: Coastal claims update - can you help?

Dec 03, 2018

Countering the Coastal Claims Campaign is seeking to contact people who know the history of the stretch of coastline in the southern Hawke’s Bay from Whangaehu to Cape Turnagain, which is being claimed under the Marine and Coastal Area Act, (claim no. CIV-2011-485-789). If you, or anyone you know is familiar with the coastline, please email [email protected]. This is an urgent request, as statements of evidence from interested parties must be filed and served on Ms Clarkson, (on behalf of the applicants), the Attorney General, and the overlapping claimants by 16 January 2019. Continue reading

Campaign to overturn the Marine and Coastal Area Act

Dec 03, 2018

The New Zealand Centre for Political Research (NZCPR) has launched a campaign to have the foreshore and seabed returned to public ownership. This would mean repealing the Act, but acknowledge this will not happen without a tsunami of public concern. You can read more about this campaign in a recent NZCPR article ‘Return the Coast to Public Ownership’. Continue reading

Local authority seeks to abandon the basic principle of democracy

Dec 03, 2018

Environment Canterbury Regional Council is promoting a Local Bill to Parliament - the Canterbury Regional Council (Ngai Tahu Representation) Bill - which, if passed, would ensure Maori representation on the Council beyond next year’s election. Please click HERE for a link to the bill. Continue reading

Maori Council demands the control of water

Dec 03, 2018

The Waitangi Tribunal has recently been hearing the final part of stage of two of its inquiry into a variety of claims relating to New Zealand’s fresh water resources. (A list of the matters the Tribunal is focusing on is available on the Waitangi Tribunal website, see HERE.) Continue reading

Countering the re-writing of history

Dec 03, 2018

In response to a claim by Ngarimu Blair of Ngati Whatua o Orakei that the land on which Auckland University's Epsom campus is situated was part of a “gift” of land to the Crown in 1841, (see NZ Herald 30 Sept HERE), we have contacted Archives NZ, and have received a copy of the Deed of Sale for this - the Waitemata to Manukau block. The deed confirms the land was sold, and not only the land, but also mentions “the whole of the water, and everything above and below the land.” (If you would like a copy of the deed, please email us at: [email protected]) Continue reading

Fairfield College monument to the Kingitanga movement

Dec 03, 2018

A year ago, Dr Bruce Moon wrote an article, published on the Breaking Views blogsite, warning of the dangerous situation being created by the distortion of the history of New Zealand. (Bruce is deeply engaged in studying New Zealand history, and the author of "Real Treaty; False Treaty - The True Waitangi Story”). A link is to his article, ‘Our Reversion to Tribalism’, is available HERE. Continue reading

Time for a good read?

Dec 03, 2018

With the summer break coming up for many of us, we have put together a list of recommended reading. (Hardly light entertainment, but enlightening!) Continue reading

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December 2018