Post by Kiwi Frontline on May 17, 2018 17:26:32 GMT 12
NO FRESHWATER RIGHTS FOR MĀORI ON OUR WATCH: NZ FIRST MP SHANE JONES
NZ First's Shane Jones says Māori are "sadly mistaken" if they think the Government will hand them over any rights to the country's freshwater supply.
The issue of Māori freshwater rights hit headlines again last year when Labour campaigned on a royalty on the commercial consumption of water, which would include working with iwi to resolve Treaty water claims.
But Regional Economic Minister Shane Jones says the "small group of finger-pointers in the iwi community who want to open up that Pandora's box are sadly mistaken".
"That is never going to happen as long as we're a part of the current government," Jones said.
Environment Minister David Parker, who drafted Labour's water policy ahead of the election, hasn't ruled out the issue being looked at but is not optimistic of resolving it any time soon.
But Jones doesn't agree with Parker's hope for resolution in the future, saying, Māori "fortunes are not going to turn around by feeding these obscure debates as to which fraction of the water resource has to be handed over to Ngai Tahu or other tribes".
"That's just not going to happen."
Jones said iwi were welcome to go to court to attempt to advance the issue but it wouldn't be making any progress under this coalition government.......
www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/103954970/no-freshwater-rights-for-mori-on-our-watch-nz-first-mp-shane-jones
NZ First's Shane Jones says Māori are "sadly mistaken" if they think the Government will hand them over any rights to the country's freshwater supply.
The issue of Māori freshwater rights hit headlines again last year when Labour campaigned on a royalty on the commercial consumption of water, which would include working with iwi to resolve Treaty water claims.
But Regional Economic Minister Shane Jones says the "small group of finger-pointers in the iwi community who want to open up that Pandora's box are sadly mistaken".
"That is never going to happen as long as we're a part of the current government," Jones said.
Environment Minister David Parker, who drafted Labour's water policy ahead of the election, hasn't ruled out the issue being looked at but is not optimistic of resolving it any time soon.
But Jones doesn't agree with Parker's hope for resolution in the future, saying, Māori "fortunes are not going to turn around by feeding these obscure debates as to which fraction of the water resource has to be handed over to Ngai Tahu or other tribes".
"That's just not going to happen."
Jones said iwi were welcome to go to court to attempt to advance the issue but it wouldn't be making any progress under this coalition government.......
www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/103954970/no-freshwater-rights-for-mori-on-our-watch-nz-first-mp-shane-jones