Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Foreshore bill end of the matter for National - PM

Updated at 11:30 am on 7 September 2010

Prime Minister John Key says the legislation to replace the Foreshore and Seabed Act is the end of the matter, as far as the Government is concerned.

The Marine and Coastal Area Bill guarantees public access, but also restores the right of iwi and hapu to go to court to claim customary title.

The Maori Party says the Bill is the best it can ask for at the moment and it will support it, but it will not rule out re-litigating the issue in future.

Mr Key says that from the National Party's point of view, it has come up with a good solution, but realises not everyone will support it.

He says he cannot rule out other political parties wanting to re-open the issue in the future, but from National's point of view, the bill is the end of the matter.

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