As a result of a Coastal Coalition Official Information Request, the Attorney General has now released submissions on the Government's "Reviewing the Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004". This is almost six month after submissions closed on 30 April.

"The summary document shows that on the most important issue, Question 1, 'Should the 2004 Foreshore and Seabed Act be repealed?', 77 percent of respondents were opposed, 21 percent were in support and 2 percent did not know. Those opposing repeal (956), outnumbered those favouring repeal (256) by almost four (3.7) to one", Coastal Coalition spokesman, Dr Hugh Barr said.

"This is a massive public vote against the government's foreshore and seabed changes and it explains why the Attorney General has kept this information suppressed for so long.

But the bad news for the government doesn't stop there.

In response to the second key issue, Question 2, 'Do you support the overall approach proposed by the government?' (a change that will usher in the race-based carve-up of the coast), an overwhelming 91 percent of submitters were opposed, only 7 percent in support, and 2 percent undecided. This is thirteen to one in opposition.

"It is clear from this overwhelming public rejection of the two key issues in the Review, that there is no public mandate at all for the Government's proposed repeal of the 2004 Foreshore and Seabed Act. "When the public Consultation Document was launched, the Prime Minister said that if there was not widespread support then the current law could remain in place.

"The summary of submissions shows that there is clearly no public support for the law change, so the prime Minister should honour his commitment to the New Zealand public and withdraw the Bill", Dr Barr said. The Summary of Submissions can be found at:

http://www.justice.govt.nz/policy-and-consultation/foreshore-and-seabed/reviewing-the-foreshore-and-seabed-act-2004/documents/Summary%20of%20Submissions