By 3 News online staff
The Government is forging ahead with its asset sales agenda, choosing not to adopt the ‘shares plus’ option suggested by the Waitangi Tribunal.
Prime Minister John Key announced this afternoon there will be no further negotiations with Maori on the issue of water ownership after the Government’s hui with affected iwi.
He says the Government will now focus on removing Might River Power from the State Owned Enterprises Act and preparing it for partial sale.
The ‘shares plus’ option was mooted by the Tribunal to give iwi shares in conjunction with enhanced power on the boards of these companies.
But Mr Key says that will not happen because it would create a conflict of interest between iwi and weaken their relationship with the Crown.
The decision not to settle the dispute over water ownership means the Government is likely to be on the receiving end of legal action from the Maori Council and other interested parties.
Mr Key says if the Council wants to take the Government to court, they can.
“That’s entirely a matter for them. From the Government’s perspective, it would not be unexpected,” he says.
The Government position on water ownership is:
In common law no one owns water;
Maori do have rights and interests in water, and these will continue to be addressed through a range of processes such as Treaty settlements, the Government’s Fresh Start for Fresh Water programme and dialogue with iwi leaders;
The partial sale of Mighty River Power does not impact on the Crown’s ability to recognise Maori rights and interests in water.
Forty-nine percent of Mighty River Power is planned to be floated next year between March and June.
3 News