Aotearoa | tv-aotearoa-19.jpg
Tamara Voninski/ oculi/ Vu Aotearoa 2005 Waitangi, New Zealand A man stands guard over the traditional waka canoes during the Waitangi Day celebrations in New Zealand. In 2005, the New Zealand government passed the controversial Seabed and Foreshore legislation to prevent Maori from claiming exclusive ownership of New Zealands resource rich coastline and seabed. The Maori traditionally see themselves as caretakers of the land and coastline. The Maori population is approximately 530,000 of four million New Zealanders.