August 17, 2015
West Coast Iwi leader sees light at end of coal tunnel.
Te Runanga o Ngati Waewae chairman Francois Tumahai says although Solid Energy is being put under voluntary administration is not good its better than the outlook miners where looking at six months ago when liquidation was on the horizon.
Francois Tumahai says at least it will give iwi and other community leaders time to look at alternatives if mines are to close.
"We're a small community on the West Coast so we are all connected in someway or shape so we know everyone. Everyone knows everyone so we might not be Maori as such but we have been bought up together for most of our lives. So we consider them whanau anyway" he says.
Francois Tumahai estimates that nearly one in ten miners on the Coast would have actual tribal affiliations.
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