December 23, 2014
Maori Council calls for price on water rights
The New Zealand Maori Council has proposed a new water policy framework it says is good for the environment, fair to all New Zealanders, and provides a way for Maori to be paid for their interests in water.
Co-chairs Maanu Paul and Sir Edward Taihakurei Durie say all New Zealanders should have free access to reasonable water supplies for personal domestic needs as a basic human right, and reasonable access to natural water bodies for recreation.
The council is still consulting on the paper with district Maori councils, hapu and iwi as it develops its submissions to the Waitangi Tribunal when it commences Stage 2 hearings into the National Water Case.
It represents a challenge to proposals being developed by water-use stakeholders meeting as the Land and Water Forum, which includes representatives from the Iwi Leaders Group.
The council says the forum does not address the Maori status as indigenous people with pre-existing customary interests.
It says the way water has been treated as a limitless, free resource for domestic use, waste disposal and commercial profit is inconsistent with the common good and Maori interests, and has led to overuse and pollution of water bodies.
All people should have free access to reasonable water supplies for personal domestic needs as a basic human right and reasonable access to natural water bodies for recreation.
Commercial use of water must be paid for to reflect its value to the community as a whole.
The Council proposes three levels for water usage:
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A sustainable natural flow or volume of water is maintained on environmental grounds;
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Domestic use water is allocated according to need;
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Commercial water use is capped at the volume of water available after allowing for levels 1 and 2 and commercial users are progressively required to pay a usage fee for water consumed, redirected or otherwise used.
Some of the level 3 allocation is reserved to Maori for water related Maori purposes or renting out to other commercial users.
The whole system would be managed by an independent commission, which would use the water charges to reclaim water consents, undertake research, monitor water use, foster water storage reticulation projects, and implement pollution reduction and environmental restoration programs.