September 21, 2012
Tuwharetoa asserts mana to negotiate
Ngati Tuwharetoa says it will negotiate with the Government as it sees fit.
Finance Minister Bill English held a hui in Taupo yesterday to discuss the Waitangi Tribunal’s idea of a shares plus scheme as a way to allow the sale of shares in state-owned power companies while recognising Maori interests in water.
The first such hui in Hamilton was boycotted by Waikato-Tainui.
Tuwharetoa paramount chief Sir Tumu Te Heuheu told yesterday’s hui that such consultation isn’t a substitute for his iwi’s continued engagement with the Crown.
The iwi has been negotiating over the status of Lake Rotoaira, which was been taken under the Public
Works Act for use in the Tongariro power scheme.
At another hui yesterday in Whanganui, negotiator Gerard Albert told Mr English the scope of the discussions so far does not address his iwi’s concerns about the diversion of its waters to the Tongariro scheme, nor the state of the awa in general.
The next hui is next Wednesday at Te Kuiti with Ngati Maniapoto.