default-output-block.skip-main
National | TPPA

Young Māori urge others to sign "We Do Not Consent" petition

Young Māori living in the Hawke's Bay are urging the nation and young people across the country to take notice of the TPPA and add their signatures to the "We Do Not Consent" petition.

Getting people to sign on the dotted line doesn't take much.

Melysa Tapiata says, "We want everyone in the country to sign this petition to give to the Governor General, asking whether the people of New Zealand want this agreement or not."

But John Key has made assurances that the free trade agreement will benefit Māori.

"We are confident that Māori will be tremendous beneficiaries of the free trade agreement with United States and Japan and others, I mean it's important to remember these markets are very big."

But for some young Māori, the bottom line isn't always about money.

Mahina Huata-Harawira (Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Aupōuri) says, "The TPPA tramples on our mana as Māori as well as our environment.  If we don't do anything about it, it is our mana and our environment that feed the greed of foreigners living overseas."

These rangatahi believe details about what exactly is in the deal are unknown, and the issue has caused a sore spot around the country.

Aroha Kingi (Rangitāne, Ngāti Kahungunu) says, "The country has to wake up in case they find that all their rights have been taken over by the government."

This Thursday TPP officials will be signing the agreement in Auckland.

Tags:
TPPA