David Parker

Wellington, March 5 NZPA - The review of the Foreshore and Seabed Act looks set to go ahead without the political warfare that marked the introduction of the controversial legislation.

Labour says it will "constructively engage" with the Government and wants to be part of the discussion.

"The last thing New Zealanders need is for this issue to be used to incite disharmony again and we won't go there," said MP David Parker.

The review was announced yesterday by the Government and the Maori Party.

It is a condition of the support agreement between them and represents a compromise because the Maori Party wants the Act repealed.

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples was pleased with the announcement of the review and said his 23,000 members would be celebrating.

"This is not reopening old wounds -- it's about peeling off a septic bandaid and treating the festering sore underneath," he said.

"Letting in some light and air will start the healing process."

The review panel is headed by former High Court judge and Waitangi Tribunal chairman Eddie Durie and its members are barrister Richard Boast and Hana O'Regan, an expert on Maori culture.

It will look at how the previous government came to implement the law and how effective it is.

Attorney-General Chris Finlayson, who made the review announcement for the Government, said he thought the current law was poor and if the panel came to the same conclusion it would outline "the most workable and efficient methods" of recognising Maori customary rights and public interest in the coastline.

The Act was one of the most difficult pieces of legislation the Labour government had to deal with in its nine years in office.

It followed a 2003 Court of Appeal ruling that it might be possible, in some cases, for Maori customary title to convert into freehold title.

That raised the possibility of parts of the foreshore and seabed being under Maori control, and fears that public access to beaches could be restricted.

The Labour government decided to legislate against the ruling and after months of controversy and protest an alternative process was set up to recognise Maori interest in coastal areas.

Maori said it amounted to confiscation and Tariana Turia quit Labour to form the Maori Party.

National, then under the leadership of Don Brash, accused Labour of favouring Maori.

The panel will hold a series of hui and accept public submissions. It has to present its report by the end of June this year.

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