Foreshore legislation hikoi heads to capital

A hikoi against new foreshore legislation might not arrive in Wellington before the bill passes.

In 2004 when Labour passed the Foreshore and Seabed Act a hikoi travelled the length of the country swelling to about 20,000 before arriving in Wellington.

A hikoi of about 100 people has left from Northland opposing the Government's replacement legislation and aims to arrive in Wellington on Tuesday.

However the bill could be passed by the end of this week.

It repeals the previous law and gives iwi the ability to seek customary rights and customary title through negotiation with Government or the High Court -- although they will still have to prove exclusive use and occupation since 1840.

The bill removes the foreshore and seabed from Crown ownership and makes it a public place -- essentially the same as a public domain -- with access guaranteed and no one having the right to sell any of it.

Attorney-General Chris Finlayson said he hoped the bill would pass by the end of the week but that depended on MPs and if any tried to deliberately delay the process.

Some parties were putting up amendments but they did not impress him, he said.

Mr Finlayson said the hikoi could gather momentum and it was hard to say if it would get to Wellington in time.

"I think there are about five or ten who have left Kaitaia, whether it gathers momentum as they march through the towns we will wait and see."

"It all depends what waylays them as they travel down the island."

Labour leader Phil Goff said his party would continue to oppose the bill and he criticised the process.

"The whole process has been undemocratic from the start. A 500-page report given two hours cursory examination by the select committee, pushing it through under the shadow of the Christchurch earthquake, pushing it through when John Key promised if there was staunch opposition to it he would withdraw it. He has not kept that promise."

Mr Goff said not only 100 people in the hikoi were opposed to it.

"It's an overwhelming cross-section of New Zealanders that don't think it's a good idea."