April 2004
A Hikoi begins in Cape Reinga and marches to parliament in protest
at the Foreshore and Seabed legislation.
May 2004
Tariana Turia resigns from the Labour Party in opposition to
the bill and, along with Pita Sharples, forms the Maori Party. In
July she easily wins the by-election for Te Tai Hauauru, standing
for the new party, and returns to parliament.
November 2004
After two years of debate and protest, the highly controversial
Foreshore and Seabed Act comes into law. With the passing of
the bill, the Maori Party begins its formal attempts to overturn
the Foreshore and Seabed Act through a members bill.
April 2006
A United Nations report from UN special rapporteur, Rodolfo
Stavenhagen,
recommends the Foreshore and Seabed Act be repealed or amended.
He says the Crown should engage in Treaty negotiations to recognise
the inherent rights of Maori in that area and there should be
constitutional reform in New Zealand to entrench the Treaty of
Waitangi and regulate the relationship between the government and
Maori.
July 2007
The Maori Party reacts angrily over National's decision not to
support it in its bid to repeal the Foreshore and Seabed Act.
National reconfirms its opposition to any repeal of the
law.
February 2008
The Labour government strikes the first agreement with Maori under
the Foreshore and Seabed Act.
The agreement with Ngati Porou allows both partys to work
towards an agreement on the Iwi's customary rights to the seabed
and foreshore and its tribal areas. It also gives Ngati Porou legal
status to negotiate a deal finalising its customary rights. Maori
Party co-leader Tariana Turia says the rights Ngati Porou were
being given are limited and don't actually confirm their ownership
of the coastal areas.
March 2009
National honours its promise to
review the legislation as part of its confidence and supply
agreement with the Maori Party.
July 2009
A review panel on the Foreshore and Seabed Act says the law should
be scrapped with Maori and the government urged to return to the
drawing board to ensure their rights are balanced with the public's
right to access beaches.
