The auction is scheduled to start July 10 and will run until bids dry up. M ori stalled the auction last year by claiming the spectrum as part of their rights under New Zealand's founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi. M ori people. Samuels acknowledged that some in the M ori caucus wanted to move in line with the Waitangi Tribunal decision. The government, however, continues to reject the claim to the ownership of the spectrum.
Opposition parties think the decision sets a dangerous precedent.
It is an absolute outrage and I believe that nearly all New Zealanders, including the vast bulk of M ori, will be outraged that decisions in this country are being taken on the grounds of race alone. The government anticipated the hostility. There is clearly a redneck angle of opposition to it. There will be opposition to it from the M ori Council who wanted resource transferred to them. Having said that, we've had good legal advice and our legal advice is that the process we have followed is solid, robust, and our auction will get away on the 10th of July.