June 13, 2013
Hostile minister forces spectrum claim
Labour’s Maori affairs spokesperson says the hostility of Communications Minister Amy Adams towards Maori has made it inevitable Maori spectrum claims will end up back before the Waitangi Tribunal.
Spectrum claimants and the New Zealand Maori Council aim to have a claim back before the tribunal by the end of the month, after Ms Adams ruled out any allocation to Maori of the 4G spectrum freed up by the shift to digital television.
The spectrum is needed for the next generation of mobile data networks, and it’s worth billions of dollars over the next few decades.
Shane Jones says since taking over the portfolio the Selwyn MP has demonstrated consistent hostility to Maori aspirations.
"She models herself as being a younger version of Judith Collins with aspirations to lead the National Party and if Maori are collateral damage as she tries to visit her pitiful version of Margaret Thatcher on Maoridom then I don't think the prosepcts are very good for us. We've always had to fight for rights under the treaty by using the tribunal and the courts. This woman is particularly hostile to Maori aspirations in the technological sphere," he says.