cowardly gnats

Cowards - that is the truth, National are cowards - all of those politicians are weakness personified. Te Urewera taken off the table in the negotiations with Tuhoe. It is their home and they still live there and it was stolen from them - pretty simple really - if you have a backbone that is.

From Stuff

"The government has made it clear to negotiators embroiled in discussions over Urewera National Park that its vesting in local iwi is ''unacceptable''.

Prime Minister John Key today broke with convention by announcing the government's position part way through negotiations, apparently to head-off the idea gaining traction at a hui this weekend bringing together Tuhoe.

Mr Key insisted yesterday the reason for ruling Urewera out of negotiations was because it fell outside the broad principles in operation for other treaty negotiations.

Tuhoe had proposed vesting the park in the iwi in return for universal access and universal rights.

UNIVERSAL ACCESS AND RIGHTS - not too scary key I would have thought. This is not the end of this story - in fact i believe this, if actually followed through, will be a major major point of contention that will cause untold division and conflict.

Update 1
Radio NZ

"Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says she's extremely disappointed the Government has ruled out vesting ownership of the Urewera National Park in the people of Tuhoe.

Prime Minister John Key says to do so would not fit within the generally accepted principles of other settlements.

Mrs Turia says the decision is devastating and the Crown is creating a fresh grievance.

Tuhoe says the Government has succumbed to fears about a public backlash.

Unfortunately because the gnats are really thick, especially pinocchiokey - they do not realise what they have started rolling with this - Tariana knows.

Update 2
From Stuff

"The Maori Party is furious with the Government for ruling out handing over Urewera National Park to Tuhoe and has accused it of acting dishonourably."

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia said last night the announcement was an outrage and issued a strongly worded statement saying that the Government should reconsider its position and Tuhoe had behaved with honour throughout the negotiating process only to face an 11th hour rejection of their key claim.

Speaking on Radio New Zealand this morning she went further.

"To have the rug pulled and take them back to square one I don't think is very honourable actions, it doesn't meet the fairness, equity and justice issues - it's appalling and I am extremely disappointed... I just don't really know the Crown which has committed these injustices in the past can actually create another one."

This may drop this government.