The Walking Access Bill is before the house, we have just finished a submission.  There will be an establishment of a committee to identify and monitor walkways in conjunction with local Authorities.

Negotiation and Agreement with and from land owners is a key aspect of this Bill.

We have supported this Bill, view FoMA Submission

FoMA supports the separation of the Maori Trustee from TPK.  We have however opposed the appointment of the Trustee and board by the Minister of Maori affairs

FoMA has not supported the MBANZ part of the Bill.  It has not been fully thought through and does not provide the level of investment required for the assistance of Maori strategic economic development. 

view FoMA Submission

New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement

The Federation of Maori Authorities wishes to acknowledge their support of the New Zealand – China Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Growth in the economy is essential, and is crucial for Maori businesses and the economy if we are to have future success.

The advantages of removing and reducing tariffs and trade barriers are significant to Maori involved with agriculture, the primary industries and services as well as Maori exporters.

Read FoMA FTA Submission here

• Maori and the Crown Treaty of Waitangi relationship and Article two guaranting Maori the full and undisturbed possession and control of their lands.
• A Central Government overarching Treaty framework be developed and implemented by Local Government to encompass the Treaty relationship.              
• Past actions and inactions of the Crown are acknowledged as factors of rates burden on Maori land and therefore are the basis for rating exemptions of Maori land.
• The Mangatu Court of Appeal decision is reviewed and implemented by Local Authorities              
• Valuation of Maori land needs to include cultural, ancestral, and spiritual values and consideration of adjacent land with intensive use such as coastal residential development.
• Maori land should be exempt from rates where public benefit is derived i.e. wetland, conservation, waahi tapu, environmental benefits, and no economic benefit is derived.

• Land titles of Maori land that is not Maori Freehold land that would have been if not for past legislation, that derives no economic benefits or services should be exempt.

• Rates in arrears be written off, and development schemes implemented to increase economic development of Maori land.
• Where services are not provided and no economic benefit is derived Maori land should be exempt from the payment of rates.

Read the Submission

The Local Government Rates Inquiry

This submission has been prepared on behalf of a group, comprising a number of local authorities and stakeholder organisations, who have been working collaboratively with the objective of determining whether there is common ground on matters which could be put before the rates inquiry panel.  This submission is supported by a companion resource paper prepared by Mckinlay Douglas ltd.  The submission deals first with context and then with a series of issues with the current system including the nature of rates, aspects of administration, and several specific issues which are primarily matters of government practice and/or legislation as well as principles to be applied to a local government funding system and a possible suite of funding tools.

Read the Submission

Read the Resource Paper

FoMA Submission on the New Zealand Governments Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change

A new panel has been formed to lead consultation on improving access along waterways. The panel would consult affected parties to reach general agreement on what measures could be implemented to improve access to the publicly owned resources of water and fish.

FoMA has responded to this with a letter to the Hon Damian O’Connor (cc’d to Hon Jim Sutton, Hon Parekura Horomia and Mahara Okeroa) praising this initiative but have highlighted a concern with the fact that FoMA was not consulted on the panelist and that none of the panelist represent Maori Land Owners or anyone who can provide this insight to the panel. Please find the letter attached to this email for your information

Parliament's Constitutional Arrangements Committee was established in December 2004, for this parliamentary term, to undertake a review of New Zealand's existing constitutional arrangements. Below is the link to the FoMA submissions for this enquiry.

The Federation's response to the Foreshore & Seabed Bill 2004.

The Charities Bill besides requiring that organisations must register with the new Charities Commission to maintain their charitable status, introduces lower thresholds for a range of non-compliant activities that can result in criminal conviction for trustees and boards of governance. Read on for more detail...

FoMA's draft submission on the Fisheries Bill due to select committee 15 March.

Submission made by FoMA to the Justice and Electoral Select Committee.

Submission made on the Taxation (Annual Rates, Maori Organisations, Taxpayer Compliance and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill now before the Finance and Expenditure Committee

Submissions made to the Institute of Chartered Accountants regarding the Exposure Draft no 90 Agriculture.

Here FoMA argues that in the face equipping of Local Authorities with powers of general competence, there must be corresponding measures to effectively guarantee and protect the rights of Maori under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We acknowledge Lake Taupo & Lake Rotoaira Forest Trusts for their contribution to this submission.

Passed into law in 2002, this Act makes owners liable for rates where occupiers once were.