OCEANIA/NUOVA ZEALAND - Bishops joint appeal to government to respect and dialogue with Maori

Wellington (Fides Service) - The Catholic and Anglican Bishops of New Zealand have issued a joint statement calling on the government to enter an ‘honest’ dialogue with Maori with regard to a new Bill concerning seabed and foreshore legislation. The new law prevents Maori claiming freehold title over the seabed and foreshore, as a Court of Appeal ruling last year said they were entitled to do. The bishops urge that the proposed law not be passed because of the "overwhelming" opposition of Maori.
The question of respect for the Maori and their culture is the subject of heated debate in New Zealand. The native peoples were penalized for centuries after the arrival of the first European settlers. The special select committee considered the Foreshore and Seabed Bill is due to report to Parliament by the end of next week. The Bishops warn that the bill could undermine social ethnic peace and national unity
In May this year Churches were among the thousands of individuals and groups who made submissions to the select committee about the law when at least 10,000 Maori staged a demonstration in Wellington against the proposed seabed and foreshore Bill.
The Bill aims to nationalize NZ coastal areas denying the ancient fishing rights of the Maori. Whereas the Maori call for the Waitangi Agreement signed in 1840 with the British Crown giving Maori, “full, exclusive and undisturbed property of seabed and foreshore lands”.
In New Zealand about 530,000 Maori, around 12.5% of the population, are among the poorest citizens.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 26/10/2004 righe 35 parole 345)