The other bill

Coverage of yesterday's ballot of private members' bills focused on Sue Bradford's anti-smacking and Ken Shirley's pro-nuclear bills. But a third bill was drawn (they always do three), and its every bit as much of an electoral hand-grenade as the other two: Nanaia Mahuta's Legal Services (Territorial Customary Rights) Amendment Bill, aimed at extending legal aid coverage to groups applying for a territorial customary rights order under the Foreshore and Seabed Act.

The National/ACT/NZFirst faction are unlikely to like this, as the removal of financial constraints will make it far easier for iwi and hapu to lodge claims. But given that we allow legal aid for treaty claims before the Waitangi Tribunal, it seems perfectly reasonable. Recognising customary rights is one of the chief aims of the Foreshore and Seabed Act. Those rights shouldn't be effectively denied simply because people lack the resources to claim them.

Update: They don't always draw three - see Kakariki's comment.