Maori have always owned water - Maori king

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Asset sales must go on hold - hui

3News NZ

The Maori king says Maori have always owned New Zealand's water (file)

The Maori king says Maori have always owned New Zealand's water (file)

By Patrick Gower

The Maori king's hui has resolved asset sales must go on hold until Maori proprietary rights to water are defined.

It is another major blow to the Government’s asset sales programme, because King Tuhetia’s spokesman Tukurorangi Morgan says all Maori are united and will not negotiate with the Government separately.

Mr Morgan says the matter will take time - meaning the Government could  have to delay further or ignore the wishes of Maoridom. 

Earlier today King Tuheitia told the national hui on the issue that Maori have always owned water.

The big chiefs and the long-time activists were at Turangawaewae to discuss one issue – water – and looking for one thing – unity.

Maori Council chair Eddie Durie says unity is on the top of the agenda for the hui and thought it was definitely possible.

“That means all the threads of Maoridom working together to get rights to water, off the Government.”

Tukurorangi Morgan agrees.

“We’ve all got to come together. There is but one waka to row. And that is for and on behalf of our people.”

But the direction that waka goes is the question. Sonny Tau who leads Nga Puhi, one of New Zealand's biggest tribes says asset sales should go on hold unless the Prime Minister fronts up to Maori.

“My message to John Key is sit down and talk to us about this. Or there's a high likelihood Iwi will take you to court over this.”

Many at the hui believe Mr Key is trying to divide and rule Maori by doing a deal with the big tribes linked to Mighty River Power - Tainui and Tuwharetoa.

But Tuwharetoa paramount chief Tumu Te Heuheu had a warning for the Government: ‘we have got you in a corner’.

Yet some Maori, such as Ngai Tahu leader Mark Solomon, say a water deal can happen without stopping the asset sales.

“From a Ngai Tahu perspective we don't believe asset sales will affect the rights and interests of Maori or reaching an agreement on that at all.”

Mr Key was in Auckland today and has shunned the call for a national hui with Maori over water.

But even his friends in the Maori Party say Mr Key must change that stance.

“Ultimately I think the Prime Minister may have to meet with Maori, totally, in a big hui like this,” Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says.

So the battle cry for unity is a challenge to Mr Key.

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Comments

14/09/2012 12:19:16 p.m.

shadoe wrote:

Guardianship is not ownership, its a brilliant way to at least stall the asset sales. Its not about divide and conquer Iwi, its divide and conquer Maori/Pakeha. The typical idiot reaction will be- "i don't want them bloody Maoris having the water so i'd better support asset sales"...and play straight into Nationals hands. P.S.- Ngai Tahu and Tainui (for example) have both more than quadrupled their wealth since their Treaty settlements.

14/09/2012 11:00:37 a.m.

Francis Paku wrote:

What a total load of rubbish, these people are deluded next they will be telling the whole world that they own their water as well. water has been on earth for millions of years,so just how can it be possible for any one section of society own it, just ignore it.

14/09/2012 9:17:01 a.m.

Grant wrote:

This is a joke and the Government have let it go too far - time to abolish the Treaty and move on as New Zealanders. Our constitution is up for review and the Maori want to make the Treaty the absolute law in NZ through changing our Constitution making non Maori 2nd class citizens in their own country. I urge you all go to www.constitutionalreview.org and vote and have your say.

14/09/2012 8:05:23 a.m.

Mark wrote:

The govt is NOT selling the water, just shares in the power company. The power companies might use water but it does not take any away it only passes through and then goes out to sea. Then one day it will be turned back in to stream and form clouds and then fall from the sky again. The water here in nz right now is not the same water when Maori first came. So how can they lay claim to it.

13/09/2012 10:39:09 p.m.

jt wrote:

This problem is of John Key's own making. He only has himself to blame for it.

13/09/2012 10:20:51 p.m.

eddiewano wrote:

What they (the Maori leaders) said does not translate exactly into "we own the water". It translates better into "we are the guardians of the water and if you want to sell the commercial rights to our water into private hands you must get our permission first"!

13/09/2012 8:56:33 p.m.

Ako wrote:

No one owns the water, air, or even land of an entire country. The Government shouldn't have to listen to this nonsense.

13/09/2012 8:32:56 p.m.

Jacquelyne Taylor wrote:

Key is indeed connniving to try to divide and turn Iwi against Iwi even as he deliberately gets his ministers like Bennett and Parata to bash beneficiaries and smash unions in the welfare and education sectors. National's brighter new future looking more like a mirage by the moment, and still the unemployment,inequality and poverty stats are the only ones growing for many. Massive respect to King Tuheitia and all who see beyond the Western interpretation of ownership and interpret it to mean for many to benefit from not the few .Sincerely hope they maintain unity.

13/09/2012 8:07:57 p.m.

Dyson wrote:

No they do not own the water and hopefully never will. It is a natural resource here long before Maori ever reached these shores and before the existence of their tribes from where ever they came from. I say they have gone a step too far. OK they are owed settlements under the treaty for stolen land and I get that but air water land no. Give them an inch they try to take a mile. The government has to and must take a positive and firm stand on this matter and ok if Maori want a fight give it to them. 85% of New Zealanders would surely agree with this. My opinion only however. The way Maori use the treaty is a joke.

13/09/2012 7:48:01 p.m.

grant larsen wrote:

Were did things go so wrong. First the maori or PI werent the first here to this land,but they were before christianity. Were did the true love,value for the land go? Who owns the air,water,land? No ONE dose!! It's provided to all living thing's bye ghia. What a shame it's all turned into a pure money grab.