Treaty lawyer Annette Sykes says hapu have next to no chance of securing their customary rights through the Government's proposed replacement for the Foreshore and Seabed Act.
Attorney-General Chris Finlayson introduced the Marine and Coastal Area Bill this week, which offers iwi and hapu the opportunity to gain customary title through the courts or by direct negotiation with the Crown.
But Ms Sykes says there's only six years to do so, once the bill is enacted.
She told Waatea News that few iwi are far enough along in the settlement process to have spare resources to pursue such claims.
