News
Maori Legal Forum tackles key issues including land policies
An annual gathering aimed at ensuring effective outcomes for iwi through quality Maori law, policy and governance has again drawn together leading legal and policy minds.
The 6th Annual Maori Legal Forum in Wellington over 31 July and 1 August drew a range of speakers and delegates to discuss pressing Maori legal issues from intellectual property to governance and land issues.
Among the speakers was Bell Gully Senior Associate Damian Stone who addressed the key issue of land and Crown asset sales in a presentation titled Landcorp's land sale policies and the sale of Crown assets – what do these mean for Maori?
Land and asset sales were drawn back into the national spotlight earlier this year in high profile land occupations in the North Island protesting the intention of Landcorp, New Zealand's largest corporate farming landowner, to sell land that was the subject of Treaty of Waitangi claims and could be ordered to be returned to Maori in settlements. The Government is now reviewing its sale policies.
In his presentation, Damian discussed the background to the legal framework around land and Crown asset sales, the protection mechanisms that exist for Maori interests and recent cases.
For a copy of Damian's Maori Legal Forum paper click here or for the presentation slides click here.
For further information please contact Damian Stone.
