Post by Kiwi Frontline on Feb 21, 2016 14:45:55 GMT 12
WATER AND DECEIT, PART 2
Part 1 of water and deceit took place in 2012 when the current government declared while preparing to sell 49 percent of State-owned electricity generators that no-one owns fresh water but Maori have rights to it. Part 2 is materialising now in part of the Government’s consultation document on fresh water.
The Government is seeking feedback on proposed changes to the way fresh water is managed. Part of the consultations is on how “to deliver better environmental and economic outcomes and better outcomes for iwi”.
First, some basic assumptions in “Maori rights” part of that document should be questioned. The document asserts:
The Government is committed to addressing iwi and hapū rights and interests in fresh water and recognises the relationship of Maori with water.
The Waitangi Tribunal found that the proprietary right guaranteed to iwi and hapu by the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 was the exclusive right to control access to and use of the water while it was in their rohe. However, the Tribunal also accepted that the Treaty changed Maori rights by giving the Crown governance powers, which includes the right to manage fresh water in the best interests of all. The Tribunal found that Māori still have ‘residual proprietary rights’ today.
Proposals have been developed through engagement between Ministers and the Freshwater Iwi Leaders Group. Both parties acknowledge the proposals do not address all aspirations of iwi/hapu, nor does the engagement represent all iwi/hapu/whanau perspectives.
Citing the Waitangi Tribunal as an authority on all things Maori is the same as citing the tobacco industry as an authority on smoking and health. The tribunal sells Maori rights just as strenuously as the tobacco industry sells cigarettes……
Continue reading Mike Butler's interesting article here > breakingviewsnz.blogspot.co.nz/2016/02/mike-butler-water-and-deceit-part-2.html
Part 1 of water and deceit took place in 2012 when the current government declared while preparing to sell 49 percent of State-owned electricity generators that no-one owns fresh water but Maori have rights to it. Part 2 is materialising now in part of the Government’s consultation document on fresh water.
The Government is seeking feedback on proposed changes to the way fresh water is managed. Part of the consultations is on how “to deliver better environmental and economic outcomes and better outcomes for iwi”.
First, some basic assumptions in “Maori rights” part of that document should be questioned. The document asserts:
The Government is committed to addressing iwi and hapū rights and interests in fresh water and recognises the relationship of Maori with water.
The Waitangi Tribunal found that the proprietary right guaranteed to iwi and hapu by the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 was the exclusive right to control access to and use of the water while it was in their rohe. However, the Tribunal also accepted that the Treaty changed Maori rights by giving the Crown governance powers, which includes the right to manage fresh water in the best interests of all. The Tribunal found that Māori still have ‘residual proprietary rights’ today.
Proposals have been developed through engagement between Ministers and the Freshwater Iwi Leaders Group. Both parties acknowledge the proposals do not address all aspirations of iwi/hapu, nor does the engagement represent all iwi/hapu/whanau perspectives.
Citing the Waitangi Tribunal as an authority on all things Maori is the same as citing the tobacco industry as an authority on smoking and health. The tribunal sells Maori rights just as strenuously as the tobacco industry sells cigarettes……
Continue reading Mike Butler's interesting article here > breakingviewsnz.blogspot.co.nz/2016/02/mike-butler-water-and-deceit-part-2.html