Tuku Morgan: Water 'will be ours forever'

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Tuku Morgan: Water 'will be ours forever'

3News NZ

Maori row a waka down the Waikato River

Maori row a waka down the Waikato River

By Sanele Chadwick

The Maori King travelled up Waikato River on traditional waka this morning to commemorate the anniversary of his grandfather's coronation.

but the trip wasn't just about celebrations – It was also about sending a message to the government.

Rain couldn't stop the waka from making its journey to Waahi Marae as King Tuheitia made his way up the Waikato River.

The journey was a chance to commemorate King Koroki's coronation in 1933, and also to send a message to the Government over Maori water rights.

"This is about an expression to the nation, to the Government, that the sovereignty to the water has never been ceded," says spokesman Tuku Morgan.

"It is ours, and will be ours forever more."

Mr Morgan was one of several tribal leaders onboard the three waka taua as discussions continue on the recent national hui held at Turangawaewae Marae.

"This is a time for us to sit and talk," says Mr Morgan. "Litigation is a last resort.

Waka taua are rarely seen and only come out on special occasions, and today was one of those. The journey also acknowledged Tainui's cultural and spiritual connection to its tupuna awa, the Waikato River.

"The river and the people are one in the same," says Mr Morgan. "We are inextricably bound."

Mr Morgan says he doesn't want a response from the Crown. He only wants to show Tainui's expression that the Maori King movement never ceded its authority over the sovereignty of the waterways.

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Comments

2/01/2013 10:52:35 p.m.

peter latoa wrote:

Maori have Guardianship_ fullstop _ its in the treaty if you read it. Now guardianship means they control the kiatiaki for benefit of the people, both Maori and pakeha, they see if you leave to global companies like the energy companies that they will suck out the kaitiaiki of the waterways o this land as well as the money out of you __ so be it __ its iwi rights according to Queen. Victoria

19/10/2012 8:32:55 a.m.

lyn wrote:

Prior State....would that mean it would of ended up a third world country.

16/10/2012 4:03:59 p.m.

joey256 wrote:

who owns the rain then Mr Morgan ? the rain that fills the waterways. as for the "journey also acknowledged Tainui's cultural and spiritual connection to its tupuna awa"would Tainui sell it like Te Uri o Hau sold theirs ?

13/10/2012 10:29:31 p.m.

tauwhare wrote:

i fully support waikato tainui claim to there awa tupuna under kiingi tuheitia money does not quiten the anger its just another tool ther system of things has for any case of theft they call it justice but we call it theft do the crime pay the time maori call it utu an justice will only be served when all wrongs are made right by compensation threw retuning of land an mana to maori.

12/10/2012 3:56:32 a.m.

Gosh wrote:

LOL show me an iwi that can make it rain and i will show you and iwi that owns water....

10/10/2012 8:13:19 a.m.

Adrian wrote:

Acknowledging and returning victims (Iwi) to a position of Prior State is accepted in most compensation packages. Somehow the Crown is a law unto themselves denying Iwi the right of complete authority over their territories. What ever happened to the meaning of fair judgement based on equality? NZ's political structure is Unjust and needs an overhaul quick smart!

9/10/2012 2:47:13 p.m.

boom wrote:

Dont even bother Eddie as some peoples view on the treaty are sooooo misguided and ingrained that instead of making a frame to fit the facts, when the facts dont fit their frame, they let the facts bounce off. These sorts of people do NOT have the intelligence to understand the state of NZ and the mindset of the people in that era. The treaty was NEVER a partnership!!! in order for that to happen the queen would have to have thought maori equal to her and she most certainly did NOT think that. Why would the english have signed something that had no benefit to them what so ever Vicki? OH thats right as you put it (so they were allowed to live here) hahaha guess what Vicki they were coming and staying regardless of what maori wanted.

9/10/2012 7:44:43 a.m.

eddie wrote:

@ Vicki..."well first no man with a beard created this amazing planet, if God exists then so does santa claus and the tooth fairy"....fair enough Vicki, care to explain then why tax payers pay Maori to 'subdue' Taniwha, is there a Taniwha Vicki?, if not...why do we pay Iwi or detour roads being build around a body of water because of a 'Taniwha'?...and if it's a 'spiritual thing, dear to the Maori hearts' then why in most cases does money make it go away, or less angry?...A RORT!

8/10/2012 9:03:58 p.m.

Vicki wrote:

People, please read the treaty, the one that gives you the mandate to even live in this country, the water is under the guardianship of the Maori, not the crown, as for God, well first no man with a beard created this amazing planet, if God exists then so does santa claus and the tooth fairy.

8/10/2012 6:35:14 p.m.

WT wrote:

it's not just one group sharron that one group voices for many people that have ties and significance to the river and no jewel he didn't ride on a horse back to his whare.