UN criticises New Zealand's foreshore legislation
18 August 2007 The United Nations has once again criticised New Zealand over the Foreshore and Seabed Act. It is the second time a UN organisation has faulted New Zealand on this law. The latest criticism is contained in a five-yearly report by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The committee is also concerned that the Treaty of Waitangi is not formally part of New Zealand law, and that a bill is before a parliamentary select committee to remove statutory references to the principles of the Treaty. It wants the Waitangi Tribunal to be given legally binding powers. The committee calls for dialogue between the Government and Maori to seek ways of mitigating what it calls the Foreshore and Seabed Act's discriminatory effects. It says this should include legislative amendment where necessary. |