• Full Story

Ngapuhi lodge claim over wind

Email
Print

Ngapuhi lodge claim over wind

3News NZ

Mr Rankin says Maori have claim to the wind under the Treaty of Waitangi

Mr Rankin says Maori have claim to the wind under the Treaty of Waitangi

By Dan Satherley

Ngaphui have formally lodged a claim at the Waitangi Tribunal for commercial use of the wind.

Spokesperson David Rankin says the tribe is making a pre-emptive move before any wind farms are set up in Northland.

He says the wind can be classified as a protected 'taonga' – or treasure – and Maori should have a say in how it is used in commercial power generation.

"Like fish in the 1980s, and water more recently, wind will become a property right and its commercial use will be a tradable commodity," says Mr Rankin.

He says non-commercial use of the wind will not be affected, and that any criticism of the claim is "flatulence".

Last week Mr Rankin told Firstline that Maori had claim to the wind under Article 2 of the Treaty of Waitangi.

"Everything is rolling on because of the privatisation of our power companies… When there's a commercial value placed on the wind, then we have to question who owns it.

"We can actually prove we've had a connection with wind since the beginning of time."

The Government's proposed sale of shares in state assets faces intense scrutiny this week as Maori gather across the country to debate the issue.

As well as the national hui at Turangawaewae Marae, hosted by the Maori King Tuheitia, there will be series of smaller meetings involving individual iwi.

Next weekend, the Maori Council is planning its own hui on the Government's plan to sell up to 49 percent of energy assets.

Prime Minister John Key says he will not be attending, but following criticism from Mana Party leader Hone Harawira, Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples indicated he would be attending.

3 News

Post a Comment

Before commenting, please take the time to read our moderation guide


(Won't be published)



Comments

9/11/2012 10:33:02 a.m.

maaori allday wrote:

and yous care what we do because.....

13/09/2012 9:38:32 p.m.

Adrian wrote:

Atrout, extreme resilience and extreme tenacity expresses the struggles Iwi have had to endure for centuries. So where in your post touches on respect? Being rational, yeeees. Being tolerant ahh No! Treaty settlements validates this response. Do you home work Atrout. You're a time waster!

12/09/2012 7:18:26 a.m.

atrout wrote:

@Adrian... you can't demand respect/mana. You earn it by respecting others and being both rational and tolerant. I respect people and don't care a stuff what their whakapapa is or where they come from or what language they speak. Some I admire, some have my respect and a few just don't rate on my radar. Where would you sit in my spectrum of good to not so good human beings? Tick your own box.

11/09/2012 10:23:39 a.m.

mary wrote:

hands up who is a maori and highly embarrased by what is going on, seriously im not a racist but wow i wish i could claim back sutff... but hold on you never owned the sea beach wind and air before. funny how none of my maori freinds think this is right and they are pretty embarrased by it all

10/09/2012 9:07:43 p.m.

Rob R wrote:

Go nuclear. Maori can't claim the Uranium, that belongs to the Aboriginies.

10/09/2012 8:32:39 p.m.

Adrian wrote:

@Atrout Your inabillity to acknowledge Maaori as the Treaty Partner respectfully clearly exposes your embarrassing colonial intent therefore negating entirely the weak, insignificant, subordinate reality argument that you fanticise of. Two nations, one country. What one nation controls and claims ownership over applys to the other. No one is claiming anything new just the right to exercise authority within their own internationally recognized territory. I guess you resist Maaori transitioning into a position of statehood capitalizing off the infrastructures that we proud NZers built on occupied stolen land along with denying border control authority and everything else that goes with that to our Treaty Partner. The only ones being left behind is those that are blinded with the resonating global view of an indignified colonial rule mindset. Atrout you sound like you want to remain in the dark ages, delusional as it may be, I wish you all the best in your endevours. But please keep your views out of the public arena, just quietly, it's too embarrassing.

10/09/2012 6:36:25 p.m.

BAZRAZ wrote:

The only reason why they (Maori) want to claim the wind, is they see money to be made and nothing else. The only thing they used wind for was to blow the smoke from the grass hut and fly a flax kite. This is getting beyond a joke and we are being seen by the rest of the world as a joke and nothing other than a little insignificant backwater country if we continue to pander to this madness .

10/09/2012 4:56:58 p.m.

Robo wrote:

I'm thinking Mr Rankin and his team will and should be told to stick this claim up their own wind-pipes.

10/09/2012 3:57:29 p.m.

tom wrote:

That's a good idea, then if i use some wind power commercially and it goes out of control and destroys my property I can sue Ngapuhi as the owners for not keeping it in a safe usable manner. Next will be the sun and we can sue them for melanoma problems.

10/09/2012 3:41:03 p.m.

Robo wrote:

And there you have it - Nickie a Maori herself wrote that she is embarassed to be one becuase she has spoken the truth. Throughout the years and years of tax payers money been paid to these tribes, billions and billions of dollars plus land been given back very little if any has made it back to the homeless, poorly educated penniless Moaris that we keep on hearing about year after year after year. The trustees of alot of these tribes have been ripping off not only the N.Z tax payers but also still depriving their own but not only depriving their own but also all the unfortunate kiwis that are in or on the poverty line becuase the government has no extra cash in the kitty whilst these STUPID and REDICILOUS claims are either being disputed or put on the table. I ask again - what have the Maoris given in compensation to the original anccestors of N.Z the Maori-ories prior to their landings on our shores. What compensation are the Maoris planning to give back to the Europeans and other Nationalities that have provided new education and development for our nation. WE ARE ONE as a Nation people. Billions and billions of dollars have been given to but a few - for what - what do we see, what do the poorly educated, poorly fed and poorly housed Maori / New Zealander see for all this money being paid out. This money could and should have been for the benefit of all New Zealanders. If the government had the "stones" then they should say NO - NO MORE to these claims and tribes. From now on the tax paid will be used for the benefit of all New Zealanders, for the benefit of "OUR NATION".
Answer me this Mr Rankin - You say the Maoris have a connection with the wind since the beginning of time - fact the maoris weren't even in N.Z at the beginning of time. We all have a connection with the wind and the bl##dy air - it blows in our face, our hair (for some) and we love it or hate it if destruction happens becuase of it - are you prepared to pay up for all the destruction it has caused, there is value in that as well Mr Rankin