December 09, 2022
Three waters no a vote for white privilege
A leading member of the Iwi Chairs Forum has slammed the Māori and Green parties for voting against Labour’s three waters reform.
The Greens voted against the third reading of the Water Services Entities Bill last night because the Government had second thoughts about the constitutionality of an entrenchment clause aimed at stopping future privatisation, while the Maori Party says the bill failed to recognise Maori ownership of water.
Outgoing Te Rarawa chair Haami Piripi says that’s a vote for the status quo, which entrenches white privilege.
“Those privileges have been allocated to different elements of our community and society which have promoted their development. They get the water first. There’s been a whole history of marginalisation and I’m just amazed the Maori Party can vote for white privilege. I’m more amazed the Greens can vote against an environmental issue in support of a financial one,” he says.
Te Rarawa and other Muriwhenua iwi have been fighting to get the water they need to develop land returned in their treaty settlements.