National 'inflaming' Maori over water debate - Labour

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National 'inflaming' Maori over water debate

3News NZ

David Shearer (AAP)

David Shearer (AAP)

By 3 News online staff

There have been angry reactions to the Prime Minister's statement the Government doesn't have to follow any Waitangi Tribunal recommendations on Maori water rights claims.

Labour Party leader David Shearer says the Government is not helping its perception among Maori by saying it can ignore rulings made by the Waitangi Tribunal – and should have paid attention to the backlash against the Labour Party during the Foreshore and Seabed Act saga.

“In hindsight we would have done it differently, and we’ve come out and said that quite clearly, I mean this Government hasn’t learned from that particular event and what they’re doing now is inflaming Maori and creating a worse situation that what otherwise would have existed,” he told Firstline this morning.

Despite this, Mr Shearer says Maori do not have a claim to water.

“Nobody owns water. We pay for water rights to use water, whether it be for irrigation or hydroelectricity or whatever,” he says.

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Comments

19/10/2012 1:13:54 p.m.

JOHN wrote:

i think john keys political veiws on the water claims are up right bull ...

11/07/2012 6:16:07 p.m.

Huang wrote:

Shearer, other New Zealanders are inflamed at maori claims too!

11/07/2012 2:55:57 p.m.

Labour suck wrote:

What a lot of nonsense. Key was asked a direct question about his legal obligations, he was correct with his reply, the Govt. are not legally bound, he did go on to say he will listen and wait. The media and the left again take it out of context.

11/07/2012 12:39:55 p.m.

Mike wrote:

If Maori are going to claim water rights they open themselves up for historical claims collectively for all water damage in NZ since the treaty, including ever payout insurance companies have made.

With ownership goes responsibility.

Eg in the news this last week, some effluent escaped a farmer while he was on holiday so he was held responsible for the damage it caused plus punitive damages. The same would hold for Maori for not controlling water that they claim ownership too. Given Maori choose to use todays value vs historical value then Maori collectively will owe hundreds of billions, if not several trillion for past water escaping their control.

Maori should stop putting their hand out blindly for free money or they may just sign their race up to pay off a burden collectively that they can never repay.

To own something you must be able to control it. This is why in British/NZ law nobody owns water rights. The Treaty gave Maori the rights of british subject - no mention of water rights there! If they do push it I would like to see Maori settle historical claims for every instance where water has got loose and caused damage. Be it liquifaction in Christchurch, or NZ worst rail disaster where water swept a bridge away kiling people.

11/07/2012 11:18:36 a.m.

mike wrote:

i hope the Maori party do drop John Key, they may even get my vote.

11/07/2012 9:43:33 a.m.

mj wrote:

As a whitey, I thoughts Keys comments poor, I dont think it was water but his comments that the government did not have to follow the tribunal which was really inciteful, if I were Maori that would certainly anger me.