21 June 2002 Media Release

CFRT WELCOMES DRAFT REPORT

The Crown Forestry Rental Trust is heartened by the positive recommendations contained in the Māori Affairs Select Committee’s draft interim report highlighted in the Dominion yesterday.

While it is unfortunate that the Committee did not consider CFRT’s response before preparing its draft report, the Trust was pleased to see it vindicated CFRT’s position and adopted a number of the recommendations originally advanced by the Trust, such as the need for Government to address forestry claims outside of the comprehensive settlement policy and the need to adequately resource the Waitangi Tribunal.

Although the report is a draft working copy only, the Trust was pleased to see that the Committee appreciated the frustrations facing the CFRT. The Trust was heartened by the fact that up to 70% of inquiry submissions were strongly supportive of the Trust and the role it has, and continues to play in preparing Treaty claims for settlement.

On 11 June, the Trust provided a comprehensive response, which fearlessly addressed all the issues raised in the submissions received by the Committee.  Trustees and Trust management hoped to talk to this submission at the final hearing to stress that CFRT welcomed the Inquiry as an important opportunity for putting our work in assisting Treaty claimants on the public record.

However, with the announcement of an early election and the rising of the House the final Māori Affairs Select Committee hearing of the Trust scheduled for 13 June was cancelled and the Inquiry was put on hold.

The Trust is confident that any final report that may be produced will take full consideration of the Trust’s position.