April 27, 2018
Maori key to climate change plans
An advisor to the Iwi Chairs Forum says the Government needs to work closely with Maori if it is to achieve its climate change plans.
The release of the Productivity Commission’s draft report on moving to a low emissions economy was hailed by Climate Minister James Shaw as creating opportunities for Maori landowners.
Willie Te Aho says Maori are well aware they will have to make some trade-offs in being responsible kaitiaki for papatuanuku, and they embraced the emissions trading scheme introduced by the previous Labour Government.
That’s something Environment Minister David Parker in particular needs to remember.
"He’s been highly critical of Iwi Chairs Forum and Iwi Leadership Group but he’s got a short term memory because it was Maori, in particulary my uncle Api Mahuika and the likes of Timi te Heuheu that helped him get the emissions trading scheme over the line with the backing of the CNI (Central North Island Iwi Holdings) which has over 170,000 hectares of forest," Mr Te Aho says.
A symposium for iwi and Maori land asset holding groups in Whanganui next week will hear from Te Arawa’s Te Taru White on how they can participate in the Government’s one billion trees programme.
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