Post by Kiwi Frontline on Jan 22, 2016 17:31:44 GMT 12
Clarity Needed on Freshwater Responsibilities; NRC
The Northland Regional Council is calling on central government to reveal more about its plans for any future freshwater reform, including how it proposes to tackle Maori rights and interests.
Chairman Bill Shepherd says a paper put to Cabinet early last year indicated the Government’s position at that time was that no-one owned freshwater, no generic share of freshwater resources would be provided to iwi and there would be no national settlement of iwi/hapu claims to freshwater resources.
However, he says the government’s current position on addressing iwi/hapu rights and interests in the context of any freshwater reform – including any deviation from that outlined to Cabinet last year – is unclear, frustrating his fellow councillors.
Councillor Shepherd says the council’s collective position at today’s meeting was that it wished to see the Crown continue to act as kaitiaki of the nation’s freshwater on behalf of all New Zealanders.
Similarly, councillors reaffirmed their support for the regional council sector’s continued role of managing freshwater under the current statutory processes, which include involving community participation…..
www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1601/S00378/clarity-needed-on-freshwater-responsibilities-nrc.htm
The Northland Regional Council is calling on central government to reveal more about its plans for any future freshwater reform, including how it proposes to tackle Maori rights and interests.
Chairman Bill Shepherd says a paper put to Cabinet early last year indicated the Government’s position at that time was that no-one owned freshwater, no generic share of freshwater resources would be provided to iwi and there would be no national settlement of iwi/hapu claims to freshwater resources.
However, he says the government’s current position on addressing iwi/hapu rights and interests in the context of any freshwater reform – including any deviation from that outlined to Cabinet last year – is unclear, frustrating his fellow councillors.
Councillor Shepherd says the council’s collective position at today’s meeting was that it wished to see the Crown continue to act as kaitiaki of the nation’s freshwater on behalf of all New Zealanders.
Similarly, councillors reaffirmed their support for the regional council sector’s continued role of managing freshwater under the current statutory processes, which include involving community participation…..
www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1601/S00378/clarity-needed-on-freshwater-responsibilities-nrc.htm