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The High Court has rejected a bid by Māori foresters to delay the release of a government discussion document on carbon market changes.
Chris Karamea Insley from Maori trade group Te Taumata sought the injunction because he says the document was prepared without consultation with Maori or consideration of Treaty of Waitangi interests, and its release was market sensitive and would have significant and irreversible effects on Māori forestry, carbon assets and the wider Māori economy.\
He says Climate Minister James Shaw seems determined to stop the planting of exotics such as radiata pine, which is the most economic use for Maori-owned marginal land in areas like Tairawhiti.
“So that was effectively taking away a property right from our Maori landowners to make our own decisions. I’ve long maintained that’s not the role of government, those decisions belong with our landowners to decide what they want to do with the land,” Mr Insley says.
He will continue to seek a judicial review of the policy.
