This is edition 2024/134 of the Ten@10 newsletter.
Welcome to the Ten@10, where I collate and summarise ten news items you generally won't see in the mainstream media.
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1. Shoring up the facts
Liam Hehir
- 📰 The recent Hobson’s Pledge advertisement in the New Zealand Herald sparked controversy over claims about customary marine titles and public beach access.
- 🗣️ Critics, mostly left-leaning lawyers and organizations, denounced the ad as misleading and potentially racist against Māori.
- 🛡️ Hobson’s Pledge defended its ad, challenging critics to substantiate their claims of misinformation.
- 🏞️ The ad advocated for the "restoration" of public ownership of the foreshore, referencing past legislative frameworks.
- 🌊 Customary marine titles grant significant rights but do not confer full ownership of the foreshore, contrary to some implications.
- 🚫 Public access to beaches under customary marine titles may face restrictions, particularly around wāhi tapu areas.
- ⚖️ Establishing wāhi tapu status involves legal criteria and is not easily declared, despite assertions in the advertisement.
- 🔍 Critics and supporters alike oversimplify and exaggerate issues, contributing to polarized public discourse.
