Hide defends attack on Takutai Moana bill

ACT leader Rodney Hide says the deals people should be concerned about are the ones future politicians will be making with iwi, not the ones he's making with National.

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira says his party should give the Government an ultimatum that it will withdraw support if the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill is changed at ACT's behest.

But Mr Hide says the Bill is deeply flawed because it allows the courts to be bypassed.

“It still does what Labour did wrong and then It adds to the problems of both Maori and Pakeha and indeed for iwi that will miss out because it sets up a process whereby the attorney general behind closed doors in his office can cut a deal and say essentially this iwi here have incredible rights out 12 miles to the foreshore and seabed, and that’s done and dusted,” Mr Hide says.

He says he is hearing from iwi and hapu concerned their customary rights will be taken by other iwi with more political clout.

MAHUTA HAPPY AT TONE SET BY CONFERENCE

Hauraki-Waikato MP Nanaia Mahuta says Labour's weekend conference hit a real chord for Maori.

She says issues like trade training, apprenticeships, and the rising cost of living are what people in her electorate are concerned about.

She says Maori also support Labour's message that it should be much harder for foreigners to buy New Zealand land.

“Crafar Farms was a wake up call to everybody. More importantly, Phil Goff signaled on key strategic assets like airports, like ports, like significant tracts of New Zealand land, we won’t be in favour of selling to foreigners,” Ms Mahuta says.

WHANAU ORA CONTRACTS ANNOUNCED OCTOBER 26

Whanau Ora Minister Tariana Turia says Maori providers are excited at the prospect of delivering health and social services in an integrated way.

The first two dozen or so providers will be named next week, with the value of the contracts expected to be about $100 million a year, including their existing funding.

Mrs Turia says 130 proposals were received from 347 providers, showing Maori were keen to work collectively rather than continue with existing models.

“This is the first time that we are seeing people who are not looking at patch protection but who are very very determined to work in the interests of families,” Mrs Turia says.

All the providers have been put through a rigorous evaluation process.