Waitangi Tribunal says TPPA not a Treaty breach

Stuff reports:

The Waitangi Tribunal have ruled the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement has not breached Treaty obligations.

However, the report raised a number of concerns, such as misjudging Maori interests and a lack of transparency on Maori advice.

New Zealand is one of 12 countries party to the free trade deal, which the Government claims will benefit the country by $2.7 billion a year by 2030.

The Treaty of Waitangi clause in the agreement should “provide a reasonable degree of protection to Maori interests”, the Tribunal said.

This is no surprise. Sadly it won’t change the rhetoric of those opposed.

Charles Finny pointed out in February that NZ was the only country that got explicit mention of indigenous rights and protection of the Treaty of Waitangi.