October 15, 2012
Maori look for united response to asset sale
The New Zealand Maori Council is meeting today with the Maori king, water claimants and iwi leaders to discuss their response to the Government’s decision to push ahead with the Mighty River Power sell-off.
Prime Minister John Key said yesterday there would be no further negotiations with Maori.
The company will be shifted next week from the State Owned Enterprise Act to the Public Finance Act, which will allow the sale of shares.
Sir Taihakurei Durie, the co chair of the New Zealand Maori, says the Government appears determined to push the matter into the courts.
He says the decision shows the Government does not understand the issue of how residual Maori proprietary rights could affect any new rights it creates in water, nor does it understand the Waitangi Tribunal’s decision about the nature of Maori rights.