Hide says forest tax second confiscation

December 20
Maori have attracted an unlikely ally in their concerns over the Governments Policy Package aimed at promoting more trees.

ACT Party leader Rodney Hide says the government is planning to apply a flat deforestation tax of $13,000 a hectare to convert forestry land into pasture.

Mr Hide says for Maori who own 40 percent of forestry land through Maori freehold or Crown forestry licence, this makes maintaining flexible and adaptable land use almost impossible.

He says much of that land is compensation for earlier Crown confiscations and a similar pattern is emerging.

“When you look at Maori owned forestry land it’s especially galling, because a lot of this land has been compensation for previous confiscations the government has done. If you diminish the property right by saying you can’t turn it into pasture without paying us, then you’re confiscating the property that’s been given to Maori in compensation for an earlier confiscation. It’s a second confiscation. I can’t get over it,” Mr Hide says.

NGATI POROU DEFENDS FOREST STRATEGY

The decision by a group of Ngati Porou landowners to plant a carbon sink forest, doesn't put the land at risk.

Whaimutu Dewes the chairman of Ngati Porou Whanui Forests Limited intends on planting 30 thousand hectares of exotic species including eucalyptus, suitable for fast growth and carbon storage.

The joint venture with a UK based company Sustainable Forestry Management, is site specific and will also contribute to the regeneration of native forest.

Mr Dewes says the forestry initiative doesn't put the land at risk.

“The land, the title to it, must never be put at risk. Not a single smidgeon of risk to the title. And a second imperative is that Ngati Porou landowners want to see that their representatives, people that they appoint, have a meaningful say ion how the whole venture is operated,” Mr Dewes says.

WATER SAFETY CAMPAIGN TARGETS MAORI

A Maori water safety promoter says a campaign targeting Maori is having an effect.

Mark Haimona, a regional co-ordinator for Water Safety New Zealand, says fewer Maori drowned this year, and the water safety message is getting through.

He says a Maori focused strategy which includes some well known faces is helping tamariki at kohanga reo and kura kaupapa understand the dangers that exist in and around water..

“It’s good to follow tikanga and it’s good to follow the reo by incorporating aspects of te reo Maori me ona tikanga. We’ve been lucky enough to have some role models out there with the likes to (actor) Pio Terei, who helps us with the campaign, and more recently we’ve been able to get on board (surfer) Daniel Kereopa, in terms of pushing that message of being safe in and around water,” Mr Haimona says.

CARBON TAX TAMPERING WITH RIGHTS SAYS ACT

ACT Party leader Rodney Hide says the Government should have learnt from the Seabed and Foreshore bill not to tamper with Maori property rights.

The Epsom electorate MP says the proposed $13,000 a hectare tax on forestry land converted into pasture is damning to the Maori economy.

Mr Hide says the Labour government should be supporting Maori to be economically pro active, rather than penalising them for using their land for purposes other than planting forests, to adhere to the Kyoto Protocol.

He says the government should re-evaluate how it treats Maori.

You would have thought they’d have learned the lesson from the foreshore and seabed bill that it’s far better to respect people’s property rights than pinch them, particularly when it’s Maori, because there’s been such a history of property rights being pinched by the Crown, and here it is continuing into the 21st century. I think it’s shocking,” Mr Hide says.

He says the comprehensive consultation process promised by Minister of Climate Change, David Parker, is double edged, and the government will act as they please regardless.

CARBON TAX WILL CRIPPLE MAORI ECONOMY

The Federation of Maori Authorities Chairman says a proposal by the government to increase taxes on changing land use will stunt the Maori economy.

The proposed Government Policy Package includes a flat deforestation tax which could potentially cost Maori $7 billion, devaluation of land and limited carbon credit posting access in 2007.

FOMA Chair Paul Morgan says it's inappropriate for the crown to lock future generations of Maori into a position where they can't change their land use, given Maori own 40 percent of forestry land.

Mr Morgan says Maori simply can't afford to have their economic momentum stunted.

“In the last 20 years Maoridom, we’re emerging economically and we’re building some momentum. Policies and regulations of this nature knock the edge off our development and our ability to participate in this country’s economy, and Maoridom, we can’t afford it,” Mr Morgan says.

Public discussion and comprehensive consultation over the policy package will take place till March next year

RIVER WARNING FOR SUMMER SEASON

Maori continue to be over-represented in drowning statistics, despite a drop in numbers over the past year.

Mark Haimona , a regional co-ordinator for Water Safety New Zealand, says Maori make up around 15 percent of the population, but are involved in 25 percent of drownings each year.

He says young Maori men are most at risk because they are more likely to get in trouble collecting kaimoana.

However he says rivers are also dangerous, and with many marae on riverbanks, are a natural draw card for Maori families.

Mr Haimona says whanau need to be particularly vigilant near rivers, due to unseen dangers.

“For Maori they are a big at risk site. We don’t have the lifeguards. The river has a lot of seen hazards. The current of the river is a lot different to that of the sea, and generally you have to really be on the alert when you go by rivers,” Mr Haimona says.