Harawira removed from foreshore committee

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira will not sit on the committee that considers the replacement foreshore and seabed legislation because of his well-known dislike of the bill.

The Maori affairs select committee, of which Mr Harawira is regularly a member, will hear submissions on the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill.

Mr Harawira has said he would vote against the bill, despite his party supporting it, because he believes Maori have the right to title without having to negotiate it.

He also said foreign owners of coastal properties would have more rights than Maori under the changes.

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia said Mr Harawira would not be on the select committee because they did not want anyone at the table who had already decided what they thought the outcome should be.

Te Ururoa Flavell would take Mr Harawira's place on the committee.

"We've got a party position on the bill, we want to protect that at the select committee phase," Mrs Turia told Radio New Zealand.

Mr Harawira could make a submission to the committee, she said.

Mr Harawira also spoke out about another matter in front of the Maori affairs committee. He said their draft report into the inquiry of the tobacco industry did not go far enough.

He said the report, expected to be reported back tomorrow, was tame and he was disappointed with it.