April 25, 2016
Tribunal ready to hear water claims
The Waitangi Tribunal has lost patience with the Government’s stalling tactics over water and has set a date for hearings on stage two of the water claims.
Stage one was reported on back in 2012 as the New Zealand Maori Council and iwi with an interest in water used for hydro generation challenged the partial privatisation of state owned power generation companies.
The tribunal found Maori could have rights and interests in specific water resources, and the stage two hearings would look at what reforms would be needed to recognise those rights and interests in a way that is consistent with the Treaty of Waitangi.
Since then the government has worked on policy options, talking with the Freshwater Iwi Leaders Group rather than the council.
It says it has completed work streams on recognition, water quality, and governance, management and decision-making, but it needs another year to work out how iwi and hapu can access the fresh water they need for economic development.
The tribunal says that work can go on alongside the hearings, which start in September.
New Zealand Maori Council chair Sir Taihakurei Durie says the tribunal is the most appropriate forum for the views of the Treaty partners to be debated in an informed fashion, rather than arguments about water rights reduced to three word slogans on TV or radio.
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