Latest move to halt asset sales, Maori own water

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Tue, 07 Feb 2012 6:07p.m.

By Charlotte Shipman

The New Zealand Maori Council today lodged a claim with the Waitangi Tribunal over Maori ownership rights to water.

It is the latest move to stall the Government's plan to sell state owned assets but the Prime Minister says he does not expect it to slow his plans down; saying water does not belong to anyone.

Water is essential for running the four state-owned energy companies ear-marked for sale.

But Maanu Paul of the council says that water is a commodity Maori own and have the right to develop.

“We want the tribunal and all the courts to look at the question if Maori did not have their ownership removed, where would Maori be with these assets?” asks Mr Paul.

The council lodged the claim this afternoon. A tribunal ruling cannot be binding on the Government but even so the Mr Key believes the claim is unnecessary.

“My view; no one owns water. It's like air, no one owns the air,” says Mr Key. “People have allocation rights in terms of the use of water.”

Labour leader David Shearer could not decide who owns the water.

“I don't know the nature of their claim. I have no understanding of it until it goes to the court,” he says. “I have no understanding if it is a legitimate claim or not.”

The Maori Council says it wants part of the Government's planned 51 percent share of the companies.

In 1992 a Treaty settlement under National awarded Maori 20 percent of new fishing quota. It is a claim the council wants to see replicated.

The council would not say what percentage of the Crown's share of state-owned assets it wants but did say, given the fisheries settlement, it should be at least 20 percent.

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Comments

02 Apr 2012 09:54a.m.

alan wrote:

If maori own all the water why didn't they pay for the flood damage in The Waikato a few years ago ?? They can't have it both ways. When maori first came to NZ they took everything off the moriori (killing most of them ) and those who survived got nothing yet maori claim to be the original settlers which is not true. It is time to put a finish to the never ending claims which include things like the air waves which were unheard of at the time of the treaty. What's next -- ownership of the internet which we will be told was invented by maori !!!

12 Feb 2012 10:06a.m.

atrout wrote:

@ Michael and jan.... perhaps a bit of study of the Treaty should include some understanding of the language of the time of the Treaty. Meanings change substantially over time. In 1840 the terms fishery, forest and other resources referred to discrete activities restricted to a relatively small area, generally exploited by one group- definitely not an entire nation. Obviously there was no nation in existence here prior to 1840. Tribal interests were regional and constantly changing. Succession of use by use of force and coercion were the rules of the day. Speaking precisely, the Treaty did not intend that all the sea or land resources of the country were in common ownership. That wasn't the operating concept of the day. The other aspect of the Treaty which has become distorted or 're-written' is that there was absolutely no intention of a partnership. This unworkable bit of political correctness has been written into legislation and agreements in the last 30 years or so. Initiated by goodwill, it has been subsequently raised to the level of an invented truth which satisfies a few and makes a mockery of democracy and effective governance. This mess has to be undone!!!

09 Feb 2012 08:45a.m.

Brad wrote:

Clarke, as usual, your posts full of grand emotive rubbish and riddled with errors. National actually received 47% of the vote (equating to 59 seats). See:
http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2011/

However, based on your prior posts I have no doubt that you will come back to tell us all that National actually only got 34%, the elections were rigged and the official Electoral Office results are part of some huge right wing conspiracy.

09 Feb 2012 08:24a.m.

Gosh wrote:

Your amended version of history is laughable. Its raining Mana, halleluiah is raing mana, hey hey. Working class citizens of NZ: One. Stone Age dreamers: Nil.

08 Feb 2012 05:23p.m.

Clarke wrote:

Alot of people angry at Maori here... I dont know why however... it wasnt your ancestors that were raped or treated like refuse... it was your ancestors who did it. Bet if any one of you had been abused in any form during your lives you would look for reparations. You all sound like those nasty little Young Nat supporters who we saw trailing Key during the election. Pimply and gross.. they come online and say lefties are all unemployed... they claim every protest crown is a rent a crowd.... because obviously no one could disagree with the mighty John Key... who 66 percent of the country didnt vote for. Of all the elligible voters National convinced 34 percent to support its policies... thats no mandate... its government by elitest minority.

08 Feb 2012 01:21p.m.

sonnetag wrote:

Maori own WHAT?? -Water comes from the skies courtesy of God and Nature - are Maori claiming to be Primary Producers and ergo GOD? At the end of the day if someone offered Maori a bunch of money and they would take it (well the top Maori would it wouldn't "Trickle Down" to the poorer Maori - and then sell it off to the Japanese and Koreans like they have done with the fisheries. Gatting rights to fish should have had Maori investing in their people and fishing and jobs but they found it more expedient to sell it off so the boss Maoris can have big salaries. If Maori get their way over this issue does that mean they will tax everyone who collects water from their roof ?? its a logical extension of their so called rights. Maori are purely in a benefit culture of whine and begand make false claims for everything. Heres a thought - the Republican lot promulgated their dsires to be a Republic on Waitangi day - if NZ became a Republic what would then happen to Te Tiriti?? - The Treaty is with the Crown not a Republic. I am a Royalist but to be honest time for NZ to become a Republic and get rid of these whining Maori Whingers

08 Feb 2012 11:16a.m.

madness wrote:

For once I agree with the Maori's. Good on them for trying to stop the asset sales.

08 Feb 2012 10:48a.m.

Matt wrote:

Next they will claim there is a taniwha in the affected water ways and only money can make it go away......

08 Feb 2012 09:25a.m.

cherie wrote:

OMG Mr Shearer make up your mind. Dont sit on the fence. Be bold not spineless

08 Feb 2012 08:10a.m.

Brad wrote:

A publicity stunt by the Maori Council. They will be aware that all the key power generating rivers have already been covered off with the respective geographical iwi in "full and final" treaty settlements years ago.

So, apart from a feeble attempt to slow the progress of part privatisation, all this stunt achieves is more disbelief and angst amongst the majority of NZ'ers and puts any progress in improving our race relations back yet again.