February 27, 2013
Supreme Court loss paves way for claims
A lawyer for the New Zealand Māori Council says yesterday’s Supreme Court decision on the sale of state power companies strengthens the hand of Māori water claimants.
Donna Hall says the court’s unanimous decision that the Treaty of Waitangi applied to the new mixed ownership model companies was a significant win.
While it’s disappointing the court did not grant orders preventing the sale of 49 percent of Mighty River Power, it did so because of commitments the Crown made about the way water claims will be handled.
“It’s an important achievement here. It will count as we go back before the Tribunal. The Tribunal’s findings from here on will be greatly strengthened and for the hapu and iwi who have supported the case going forward, it will be a big help. The government will not be able to ignore the Maori customary interests in water,” she says.
Donna Hall says the claimants will now push the Waitangi Tribunal to bring forward the second stage of hearings.
Copyright © 2013, Uma Broadcasting Ltd