The Government won't revisit the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill if it is passed by Parliament, and if it isn't the Foreshore and Seabed Act will remain in force, Prime Minister John Key said today.He made the Government's position clear afte
The Government won't revisit the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill if it is passed by Parliament, and if it isn't the Foreshore and Seabed Act will remain in force, Prime Minister John Key said today.
He made the Government's position clear after Labour last week withdrew its support for the bill, saying it didn't consider the replacement legislation would deliver an enduring solution.
The Government now has 63 votes in favour of the bill and there are 59 against it, which means that if two MPs switched sides there wouldn't be sufficient support for it to pass.
The Maori Party, which is backing the bill except for MP Hone Harawira, has suggested it could be amended to meet iwi concerns that are being voiced at select committee hearings but Mr Key has now ruled that out as far as his government is concerned.
"Our position is we believe we have enhanced foreshore and seabed legislation in the form of the bill," he said.
"If for whatever reason we didn't have the numbers to pass it, the existing legislation would stay on the books."
Asked whether the Government would revisit the replacement legislation, he replied: "No. I've made that clear."
Mr Key said most of the information that was being spread by the Coastal Coalition, which opposes the bill, was either factually incorrect or exaggerated.
He said he didn't think voter opposition to the bill was enough to give his MPs problems.
"Our caucus has a much better understanding of our proposed legislation than many others would," he said.
"There will always be some anxiety, but that's true of pretty much anything we pass."
The bill returns to Maori the right to seek customary title to parts of the coastline, either through the High Court or by negotiation with the Government.
The test for customary title is uninterrupted use and occupation since 1840, which iwi say will be very difficult to meet.
