November 13, 2012
Mana claim flies as water muddied
Māori Council co-chair Maanu Paul says Ngāi Tahu has damaged its mana by backing the Crown against the Māori Council.
The council and Waikato River iwi are in the High Court at the end of the month challenging the sale of shares in Mighty River Power.
Te Rūnanga ō Ngāi Tahu has weighed in with an affidavit saying that selling shares in South Island power generators won't affect the tribe's treaty rights and interests in water, and it will continue to deal with the Government over water management through the Freshwater Iwi Leaders Group.
Mr Paul says the New Zealand Māori Council has the duty to advocate on issues that affect all Māori.
He says iwi have the right to act for their own members, but they should not muddy the waters by backing the Crown against other iwi.
"There is no free lunch available for anyone. Sooner or later you have to pay and for Ngāi Tahu, they are paying in the loss of mana at this very moment," Mr Paul says.
The judicial review of the Mighty River Power sale starts on 26th of November.
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