Politics

Video: Little on why the govt needs to resolve Kermadec dispute

09:44 am on 20 September 2016

In Focus - Labour leader Andrew Little says he cannot guarantee he will support the Kermadec ocean sanctuary if the government does not resolve the dispute with Māori.

The government is being accused of rushing legislation through and has been criticised for a lack of consultation with Māori. It has restarted discussions with the Māori Party to see whether it will support the bill.

Mr Little told Morning Report today that negotiations could come up with alternative fishing areas or compensation for those affected.

He said the proposal put the integrity of other Treaty settlements in doubt.

"Either the government has got to get this sorted out, and negotiate creatively to get a solution, or Te Ohu Kaimoana and other Maori interests have got to have the right to test those rights in court. Labour learnt this from Foreshore and Seabed, we don't want a repeat of the same mistake again."