Green MP Catherine Delahunty has presented a petition with almost 5000 signatures calling on Government to support her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill, which is due to be debated in Parliament next week.

Green MP Catherine Delahunty has presented a petition with almost 5000 signatures calling on Government to support her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill, which is due to be debated in Parliament next week.

“The Public Works Act has been used time and time again to alienate Māori from their land, leading to the struggles for Bastion Point, the Raglan golf course and to Patricia Grace’s fight to protect her land from the Kāpiti Expressway, which inspired my Bill,” said Ms Delahunty.

“The Green Party has taken this petition around the country and people have shared with us their own stories of the loss of Māori land under the Act and their desire to see an end to compulsory confiscations once and for all.

“My hope is that the petition will be referred to the Māori Affairs Select Committee so that the public, including those whose land has been affected, can have their say.

“Supporting this Bill gives Parliament the opportunity to ensure that historical injustices aren’t repeated. The Bill will ensure that not one more acre of Māori freehold and customary land can ever again be taken without consent,” said Ms Delahunty.