Iwi want access to waterways on Maori land

[Kiwi Frontline]

Iwi want access to waterways on Maori land
A group representing many iwi around the country say Māori must be given the right to freely use the water on their land.

Te Tumu Paeroa chief executive Jamie Tuuta said in the 1970's, rural water schemes in Taranaki were funded by the government and local council rate payers.

He said in the past five years, the government has given the rights of two of those rural water schemes to the occupiers of Māori land, which includes lease land that Parininihi Ki Waitotara owns and other Maori trustee land.

"Those water rights have basically been handed for nothing to the occupier, the tenant, the leasee, and they [the rights] have now been separated from the particular parcel of land."

Rongowhakaata iwi lead negotiator Willie Te Aho said the Crown needed to prioritise tribes concerns.

"We got back a farm outside Manutuke and we didn't get the water that goes with that farm. We just got the farm. The leasee owns the water that services that farm.
www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/294111/iwi-want-access-to-waterways-on-maori-land

[Orite]

I think Tuuta is talking tutai, as far as I know if a small amount of water is to be taken from whatever  source, no resource consent is required, but if a large amount, for instance for irrigation etc, a resource consent must be obtained regardless of the status of the user.