Opinion: Water debate becoming a mess

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Opinion: Water debate becoming a mess

3News NZ

Political Editor Duncan Garner on Firstline this morning

Political Editor Duncan Garner on Firstline this morning

The debate over water rights is becoming a mess for the Government, with the Waitangi Tribunal asking for asset sales to be delayed.

Prime Minister John Key has gone from macho man to mouse, and has softened his language toward Maori and the tribunal.

He now says that due process must be followed.

In other political news, John Key has pledged to change the local body electoral law in the wake of the John Banks furore over campaign donations from Kim Dotcom.

Watch the video for Duncan Garner’s political wrap on Firstline

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Comments

24/09/2012 10:32:34 a.m.

takutaimoana4sure wrote:

Bill English or should I say “English Bill” you have mail and it reads NOT one more acre of land, Not one more grain of sand, Not one more ocean or lake, Not one more river or stream, Nor a well or spring, To be taken, AOTEAROA is NOT 4sale

24/08/2012 3:25:40 a.m.

jan.. wrote:

Water should be free to everyone unless its your own water foundation to declined such request from the Tribunal.. rethink..

12/08/2012 11:00:38 a.m.

Moera wrote:

Why does the govt want to sell or conduct partial sales of S.O.A if majority of NZders have voted against against it??

3/08/2012 10:44:44 a.m.

Mal wrote:

No mess at all. Pakeha do not own the water. So why are they selling it?

3/08/2012 7:13:30 a.m.

Wiseacre wrote:

Within our legal system there is already a judgement that awarded property rights over the water in one of our major hydro lakes to one of the energy companies up for partial sale. The High Court ruled in 2005 that Meridian Energy has what is tantamount to a property right over all the water in Lake Tekapo. Meridian is owned by the taxpayers, so we still own the lake, at one remove. Meridian got that lake water for nothing. If we partially sell Meridian and Genesis - the current *owner* of Lake Tekapo after its transfer from Meridian in 2011 - who will *own* Lake Tekapo's water?

2/08/2012 4:42:20 p.m.

M wrote:

The government does not own the water either.

2/08/2012 10:24:42 a.m.

Richard wrote:

No mess at all. Maori do not own the water. End of story.