Post by Kiwi Frontline on Oct 27, 2017 16:19:52 GMT 12
WATER ROW: 'WE ARE GOING TO EXERCISE OUR RIGHTS'
The Māori owners of Porotī Springs in Northland are going ahead with plans to develop their resource without council consent.
Hapū have been fighting without success for a share in the water rights at Porotī, and have opposed plans for a bottling operation nearby.
Mr Ruka said holding back water at the Porotī Springs source could affect the quality of that taken downstream by the Whangarei District Council and local irrigators, but that was no longer the trustees' concern.
"We have no other pathway of action."
"We are not asking the council, the Whangarei District Council or the Northland Regional Council. We are just telling them of our right and they will just have to work with us and we will just have ensure that we stay legal within the Resource Management Act."
He said no-one has ever given serious consideration to Māori interests at the springs, despite years of effort by the hapū.
"We have to focus on looking after ourselves."......
www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/342490/water-row-we-are-going-to-exercise-our-rights
The Māori owners of Porotī Springs in Northland are going ahead with plans to develop their resource without council consent.
Hapū have been fighting without success for a share in the water rights at Porotī, and have opposed plans for a bottling operation nearby.
Mr Ruka said holding back water at the Porotī Springs source could affect the quality of that taken downstream by the Whangarei District Council and local irrigators, but that was no longer the trustees' concern.
"We have no other pathway of action."
"We are not asking the council, the Whangarei District Council or the Northland Regional Council. We are just telling them of our right and they will just have to work with us and we will just have ensure that we stay legal within the Resource Management Act."
He said no-one has ever given serious consideration to Māori interests at the springs, despite years of effort by the hapū.
"We have to focus on looking after ourselves."......
www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/342490/water-row-we-are-going-to-exercise-our-rights