Opposition warns Govt: Heed tribunal or face court

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Opposition: Heed tribunal or face court

3News NZ

Electricity companies are first in line to be sold (file pic)

Electricity companies are first in line to be sold (file pic)

The Government should heed the Waitangi Tribunal's recommendation to halt the partial privatisation of state-owned energy companies or face expensive litigation, say opposition parties.

The Maori Council had sought an urgent direction from the tribunal against state asset sales, arguing Maori have an ongoing relationship with freshwater resources, including rivers, lakes, springs, and geothermal areas and they have rights equivalent to property rights to them.

The Crown argued that there cannot be ownership of freshwater resources but people can have rights to them.

The tribunal said on Monday that the Crown shouldn't begin the sale of shares in any of the mixed-ownership model companies until it has completed a report on its inquiry into water rights in September.

Labour leader David Shearer says National's insistence on ploughing ahead with the asset sales in the face of the Maori claims exposes taxpayers to huge financial risk.

"If this goes to court, taxpayers will foot the bill while private investors enjoy the profits," he said.

Greens co-leader Russel Norman says the Government must "uphold the mana of the Waitangi Tribunal" and not proceed with asset sales until it makes its full findings.

"Pressing ahead now would invite expensive litigation from the Maori Council and iwi," he said.

Tribunal rulings are not binding on the Government but Prime Minister John Key says it will consider the report carefully and seek advice from a number of Government agencies, including Crown Law and Treasury.

"We also gave a commitment that we'd discuss our response with the Maori Party and they'll obviously be discussing with us their response," Mr Key said.

"We want to act in good faith and let the process run its course, but in the fullness of time we will respond to the Waitangi Tribunal."

The Government wants to sell 49 percent of Mighty River Power, Genesis Energy, Meridian Energy and coal miner Solid Energy.

NZN

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Comments

31/07/2012 7:57:45 p.m.

David wrote:

We elected this government, they have been more up front than any previous but still the grizzles continue. It is no wonder so many people are leaving NZ.when every day we have the Treaty rammed down our throats and the minority Maori keep putting their hand out for more. If I was 30 years younger I would be gone too. Let's have a NZ for everyone.

31/07/2012 6:29:13 p.m.

Adrian wrote:

I'm in favor of any grouping of nz citizens who oppose state driven policies that arrogantly violates the rights of others. Is it because the grouping happens to be predominately of one ethnicity, Maori yet mixed ethnicities like share holders in any given corporation are exempt from the same indecent criticism should they find themselves in an unrelated though similar predicament? Or is it a case of servicing the needs of the majority and to hell with the rights of the few? Many will answer yes to both questions and I agree. The answer to this ongoing saga is staring us in the eyes and that is, that we as reluctant nzers of mixed ethnicity need to collectively accept Maaori as a nation unto themselves whilst statehood among some groupings albeit Iwi or Hapuu appears inevitable. As recent as WWII the Maori nation was acknowledged as an allie to the global force network and equally acknowledged by its enemy forces. Nothing formally has altered this recognition since while many nzers as it seems continue to live in a world of bigotry fantasy ... and why? ... for what reason? Maaori rights deserve a fair hearing in the same way non-maori too are entitled to the same legal process irrespective of dispropotionate share capacity; rights belong to all nzers. To prove a violation has been/is being committed is a tall order, the bar is set very high so for the rhetoric the majority are hard done by again begs the question, what makes you possess these insecurities? Harden up and lets get on with getting on, it's as simple as that!

31/07/2012 1:20:30 p.m.

joke wrote:

everyone should be more up in arms about the fact the democratically elected government in our country is being held to ransom and tax-payer money wasted on some Maori ego's and greed. Because this isnt being contested to benefit NZers nor is it being done to benefit most Maori It is being done to make the greedy few richer under the name of the Waitangi Treaty which is having its value and truths undermined by the greedy few tribes who apparantly dont want electricity for NZ Now thats the real reason people are leaving this country because it will never be united as one

31/07/2012 12:41:58 p.m.

Gary wrote:

If JK goes ahead without waiting for the tribunal findings then this surely has nothing to do with money. The figures and reason has never added up and National have never given any good supporting reason for this. I feel now that this has more to do with crown wanting to separate themselves from Maori what ever the cost to NZ. 10 years later when all energy companies are owned by foreign investors, profits going oversees, electricity prices continually increasing and huge bonuses paid to the CEO,s we will all be complaining, but too late then. Business will suffer, households will suffer, NZ will suffer. If the crown do not want to maintain their obligations to the treaty, then simple, go back to UK. You are the ones that invaded this country Maori just fought to keep what is theirs.

31/07/2012 12:29:57 p.m.

Ngati Taxpaia wrote:

There are no grounds for this to proceed as all treaty settlements are for land confiscation. And even many of these a fictitious. As and example there were no historical tribes in the central Waikato region at the signing of the treaty document at all with the Tainui being "invented" along the way. We are already paying for the mighty Waikato river with extra council rates, council consultation fees from each council unit and a subsidy in Environment Waikato rates.This has all gone beyond fairness with no contribution from the Treaty settlements all being used in Maori corporations and looking out for the big guys. If this is silly enough to proceed watch out for the big Maori corporates getting asset sale shares and still the power bill will go sky high. Gotta keep the gravy train on full express.

31/07/2012 11:12:40 a.m.

Richard wrote:

The government will only 'listen' if it suits the mood at the time.