A collective of around 60 Māori Land Trusts, representing over 150,000 landowners and multiple iwi and hapū across the North Island, have filed legal proceedings in the High Court. They argue that successive governments have failed to uphold their rights under Te Tiriti o Waitangi by continuing to allocate water on a “first‑in, first‑served” basis. They are seeking:
- Stronger legal recognition of tikanga Māori and Māori proprietary rights over freshwater and geothermal resources;
- Immediate steps to stop further degradation of waterways;
- A more equitable water allocation system that supports kaitiakitanga (guardianship).
The claim highlights ongoing concerns about the rollback of Te Mana o Te Wai in the Resource Management Act reforms, and stresses the urgency of honouring Treaty obligations before the ecosystems suffer further.
More to come
