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To: The House of Representatives of Aotearoa New Zealand

Oppose the Amendments to the Marine and Coastal Area Act

This petition was handed in on October 16th. Thank you to everyone who supported the kaupapa and helped it reach over 20,000 signatures in just three days. If you want to join further actions for a Te Tiriti o Waitangi honouring future for Aotearoa sign up here: https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/together-for-te-tiriti-o-waitangi

[Image description: a set of four rubbish bins with the letters MACA (the Marine Coastal Area Act).
The Undersigned Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti demand that:
 
  • The government immediately halt all progress on the amendments to the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act.
  • The government uphold its constitutional duty to protect Māori customary interests in the marine and coastal environment. 
  • Full and genuine consultation with tangata whenua be required in all legislative changes affecting Māori rights in the marine and coastal environment.

Why is this important?

We oppose the amendments because they will:

  • Override Treaty principles that protect the integrity of all Treaty-based mechanisms.
  • Undermine Treaty articles on protection and partnership. 
  • Deprive all whānau, hapu and iwi of their legal rights to the marine and coastal environment.
  • Strip Māori of the kaitiaki status required to safeguard our marine and coastal ecosystems from environmentally hazardous development.
  • Require a level of control over coastal areas that is incompatible with tikanga Māori, and impossible to achieve due to the historical disruption through colonisation.

Updates

2025-10-16 11:35:02 +1300

20,000 signatures reached

2025-10-15 05:04:37 +1300

10,000 signatures reached

2025-10-14 16:44:19 +1300

5,000 signatures reached

2025-10-14 08:28:09 +1300

1,000 signatures reached

2025-10-14 07:44:06 +1300

500 signatures reached

2025-10-14 06:57:47 +1300

100 signatures reached

2025-10-14 06:48:23 +1300

50 signatures reached

2025-10-14 05:19:29 +1300

25 signatures reached

2025-10-14 00:21:42 +1300

10 signatures reached