Te Pāti Māori is condemning Minister Shane Jones after he openly admitted to media yesterday, “I’ve asked Mister Bishop if we can have a meeting with the conveners…” in relation to Trans-Tasman Resources’ (TTR) seabed mining application under the Fast-Track Approvals regime.
“This statement exposes his absolute disregard for transparency and due process” said Te Pāti Māori Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.
“The conveners are meant to be independent. For a Minister so loudly pro-seabed mining to admit publicly he is trying to gain access is political bullying and corporate cronyism at its worst.”
The Fast-Track process is already designed to strip away public and iwi voices. Allowing Ministers to interfere directly with conveners behind closed doors undermines the rule of law, breaches Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and makes a mockery of natural justice.
“The Supreme Court has already rejected this destructive project. For Shane Jones to use his Ministerial office to tilt the table in favour of TTR is corrupt politics, plain and simple,” said Ngarewa-Packer.
Te Pāti Māori is demanding immediate assurances that:
- Conveners will not meet privately with Ministers.
- Any Ministerial discussions are fully disclosed to the public.
- Customary marine rights and tangata whenua opposition are respected.
“If TTR cannot lodge a credible application after more than a decade, that is their failure. It is not the role of Ministers to bend the rules, override independent conveners, and sell off our moana to corporate speculators,” Ngarewa-Packer said.
“Te Pāti Māori will not allow this Fast-Track to become a political favour-track. When we are in government, Te Pāti Māori will repeal all legislation that allows seabed mining and restore integrity to decision-making in Aotearoa.