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Govt plans to fast-track iwi consultation

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Govt plans to fast-track iwi consultation

3News NZ

Pita Sharples will be the only Govt minister attending next week's hui

Pita Sharples will be the only Govt minister attending next week's hui

The Government's consultation with iwi over partial sales of state-owned energy companies will be fast-tracked by talking to them all at once.

Prime Minister John Key announced earlier this week that Government ministers will consult with affected iwi about the "shares plus" concept, which would give Maori rights and powers over and above those of other shareholders, in the sale of Mighty River Power.

The concept was raised by the Waitangi Tribunal after hearing the Maori Council's water rights claim.

Mr Key says the Government does not want to use the "shares plus" idea, but consultation is "the prudent thing to do".

In a letter to the Maori Council, ministers Bill English, Tony Ryall and Chris Finlayson said the Government intends to consult iwi and hapu "with a specific connection to the freshwater and geothermal resources" used by Mighty River Power, Meridian Energy and Genesis Energy, the New Zealand Herald reports.

The Mighty River sale has been delayed until early next year following the Waitangi Tribunal claim, and will be followed by Meridian late next year and Genesis in 2014.

However, the Government will consult on all three this year at a series of hui for the iwi who have a direct interest, a source confirmed.

Mr Key ruled out a national hui or consultation with the Maori Council, but the Government's letter seeks the council's input into that consultation process.

The Maori King has called a national water hui for next week, with the Maori Council and politicians invited, although Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples will be the only Government minister to attend, in his capacity as Maori Party co-leader.

Meanwhile, Mana Party leader Hone Harawira is defending calling the government's Maori MPs "little house n****rs", after Mr Key ruled out their attendance at the hui.

"Notice how John Key says none of his Maori MPs are allowed to go to the national Maori hui on water ... and two minutes later (Maori Party leaders) Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples say that they're not going. Not hard to see who's the real leader of the Maori Party!" Mr Harawira said.

He later said the "n****rs" remark was not aimed at Mrs Turia or Dr Sharples.

NZN

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Comments

10/09/2012 10:07:41 a.m.

Mal wrote:

@ BELOW. Why should foreigners have those water rights to fleece us? Families have enough problems trying to put food on the table without the high costs of paying power costs to these foreigners. Is that clear enough for you?

9/09/2012 8:08:13 p.m.

Moera wrote:

@ BELOW AVERAGE WAGE EARNER All I can say is this and what MAL is trying to say....Maori are claiming for the same thing J.Key wants...'Water rights'. Water rights are a renewable resource that will generate an income. Its this resource that J.Key is adamant about selling to private investors. Against popular belief that these assets should remain in NZ hands. J.Key hasn't promised NZers anything other than 'maybe' putting the budget back into surplus. (something that won't happen if J.Key sells Assets @ below the est.price & nothing about how private investors will treat NZers) IMO, NZ economy isn't going to get better by 'selling' our assets. Attention would be better focused on improving trade relations, getting rid of foreign shipping charters and generating jobs by having NZ owned charters (as a beginning). I truly believe there are other avenues J.Key could look at first without exploiting & selling our SOA. We need a long term solution as suppose to short term

9/09/2012 12:05:45 p.m.

BELOW AVERAGE WAGE EARNER wrote:

@MAL. Water ownership, water rights call it what you want. I just don't see how this whole fiasco will benefit the average New Zealander in any way. First in was to the books in order, now christchurch. This isn't a personal attack on Maori at all and im sure they do have grievances yet to be settled but times are hard in this day & age and the govts focus should be on doing more to improve Employment, Education, Health and Housing opportunities for all, especially the needy. Taking GST off food is a good start. MOERA is right i guess, the rich get richer and the poor will stay poor.

9/09/2012 9:22:02 a.m.

Mal wrote:

@BELOW AVERAGE. ITS NOT ABOUT WHO OWNS WATER. Its about water rights. If water is free, Why is JK trying to sell it to foreigners. (his buddies) Will that keep the power bill down for the starving so they can put food on the table? You need to wake up and fast.

8/09/2012 6:01:08 p.m.

Moera wrote:

@ROBO What Billions and Billions are you talking about? Are you referring to the 10% piece of pie given to Maori by the govt? A 10% share of the 100% pie that the govt owns. Why not ask J.Key why he is so adamant about 'rushing' throu asset sales. Ask J.Key exactly how much NZ & NZers gain from selling state assets. Where will that money go? You talk about Maori and what Maori do for there own? Last time I saw, there were also pakeha standing in the bread line and that number is growing by leaps and bounds. What's J.Key doing for these pakeha....?? That's right...J.Key and his govt are slicing and dicing NZ's most important sectors in an effort to save cash. Education, Welfare, Social development, Health etc, etc, etc and yet J.Key hasn't slashed his income, he's still living in comfort, nice show of 'good faith'. Robo, you want billions and billions to finance the future of NZ? Then ask J.Key why he still earns a 6 digit income. If he can slice n dice NZs sectors, ask him why he hasn't led by example. At the end of the day the poor will stay poor the rich will get richer. NZers both Maori and Pakeha including everyone in between will feel the 'bite'. J.Key has not only shown a lack of 'good faith' to Maori but also to those NZers who are against Asset sales - by deliberately ignoring their collective voice.

8/09/2012 2:37:26 p.m.

below Average wage earner wrote:

What a load of rubbish if you ask me. Some people need to wake up, this whole water debate is starting to give me a headache. People I know (including maori) are more worried about putting food on the table, stable employment and being able to pay the bills rather than this bitter arguing between maori and govt over who owns water, because that is the truth. Im sure most would agree.

8/09/2012 2:24:41 p.m.

Mal wrote:

Do maori own the water? NO. Do maori have water rights? YES. And if they dont have either or entitlement, WHY IS THE GOVT trying to sell them? Key states no one owns the water. Who is telling lies. Not maori thats for sure.

7/09/2012 4:21:21 p.m.

Grant wrote:

New name for Mafia - IWI

7/09/2012 2:02:09 p.m.

Robo wrote:

@ Moera - Has there been any good faith given from the larger tribes down to the smaller tribes regarding compensation of lost land oh and now water ways. Has there been any good faith given or passed down to the homeless, poorly educated, poorly housed, poorly fed Maori's that we keep hearing about and seeing year after year, after year after Billions and billions of dollars have been given in "good faith" already - answer none or not as much as should have been and the lack of accountability is very concerning as these billions and billions of dollars could have been and could still be used in the future for the greater growth and development of ALL New Zealanders.

7/09/2012 12:07:50 p.m.

Moera wrote:

@NOT AMUSED....You can take those comments to J.Key, since it's his ongoing refusal to act in 'good faith' that has put NZ in the position that it's now in.