Labour M.P. excluded by Mr Muldoon

Press, 12 April 1983, Page 3

Labour M.P. excluded by Mr Muldoon

PA Wellington The Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon, has refused to see a Labour member of Parliament, Mrs Whetu Tirika-tene-Sullivan, as part of a delegation of Taranaki Maoris concerned at the Government’s recent decision. to proceed with the Motunui synthetic petrol plant outfall. The group will meet Mr Muldoon at the Beehive today. It is concerned that the Government overruled a Waitangi Tribunal’s recommendation that the ocean outfall should not be built as it could endanger traditional Maori fishing grounds. There was no reason why Mrs Tirikatene-Sullivan should be part of the delegation as it was not in her electorate, Mr Muldoon said. He would be prepared, however, to meet the local Maori member of Parliament, Mr Koro Wetere, with the delegation. “I am not going to have it made into a political side-

show by Mrs TirikateneSullivan,” Mr Muldoon told reporters. He did not want it to turn into a “political wrangle.” Mr Muldoon said he would listen to any alternative proposals for the ocean outfall provided they met the criteria of “time and certainty.” Those were the Government’s reasons for proceeding with the present proposal. “We had to have it ready in time and we had to have certainty of the appropriate water right. “Any alternative solution must comply with both these conditions.” Mr Muldoon said he had received a lot of letters criticising the Government’s action, but most were orchestrated by environmental groups. All the complaints failed to acknowledge that the Waitangi Tribunal was empowered to make recommendations only to the Government. Its decisions were not binding on the Government.