February 07, 2020
Water investment proposal dilutes court push
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The fire of iwi to go to court on water ownership rights may have been temporarily soused with a new proposal to invest in rural water infrastructure.
With tankers doling out water rations in Kaikohe and an excess of the stuff coursing through towns in Southland, the practical rather than theoretical aspects of the water debate took greater prominence at this week’s Iwi Leaders Forum in Waitangi.
Advisor Willie Te Aho says the way forward may be a proposal to boost rural infrastructure that came out of Monday’s session between Māori land trusts and authorities and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones.
He says his proposal can lead to investment in Māori land and jobs for whānau.
“So that package was put up. There was a moratorium proposed that said let’s work with the crown, let’s talk about ownership, let’s talk about allocation and let’s do all these other things rather than posturing around in the court because the crown is not going to roll over and die on the issue of ownership belonging to Māori,” Mr Te Aho says.
The proposal needs to be worked through with Mr Jones and the Environment Minister, David Parker, but it drew broad support from the forum.
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