Post by Kiwi Frontline on May 22, 2016 12:50:08 GMT 12
OPEN LETTER TO NATIONAL MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
Over the last few months, you will have received many messages from New Zealanders, concerned that your Party is considering allowing iwi to become involved in the allocation and control of the country’s fresh water. As you know, fresh water is vital to our survival and the thought that a private group, with strong vested interests in owning the resource and deriving an economic benefit from it, could be given controlling authority over its use, is simply unacceptable to most people.
This, of course, is not the first time tribal leaders have sought control of this essential resource.
They tried it on with Helen Clark’s Labour Government in 2006, when some of the country’s most powerful tribal leaders came together to demand control of water. They wanted a price on water to trigger a settlement, which they believed would ‘dwarf’ the $170 million fisheries settlement of quota, fishing company shares, and cash, they had received when the quota management system was introduced in 1986.
But the Clark Government rejected their advances and stood firm, upholding the long-held position of successive governments, that water is not owned, but is controlled and managed by the Crown for all New Zealanders.
Labour’s position was, in fact, consistent with the recommendation of the Government’s ‘Red Book’ guide to Treaty settlements, Healing the past, building a future – a Guide to Treaty of Waitangi Claims and Negotiations with the Crown, which states that in such matters, the Crown has a duty to act in the best interests of all New Zealanders: “The Crown must govern in the interests of all New Zealanders. In considering redress options it must balance the grievances and aspirations of Maori claimant groups with matters such as continued protection of and public access to conservation areas, and the overall management in the national interest of resources such as water, petroleum and geothermal energy.”
Given the consistent stance taken by Labour, it has been a shock to find out that your Party appears ready to cede to the demands of Iwi Leaders through Nick Smith’s fresh water reforms.
To see exactly what Iwi Leaders want, you should read for yourself the claims outlined last year by their Freshwater Group – a group that has developed a close association with Ministers and government officials.
Essentially, they not only want owner
ship of fresh water, but also of the beds and banks of all of New Zealand’s lakes and rivers. They want a price on water so they can gain commercially from controlling the resource. They want to be involved in every aspect of fresh water decision-making. They want to establish new “Rohe Protection Areas”, where they would have total autonomy – full control of waterways, with a prohibition on the involvement of Councils or the Department of Conservation unless required by the tribal group. In addition, they want $1 billion of taxpayer funding to build their capacity to manage and control fresh water……
Continue reading Dr Muriel Newman's 'Open Letter' here > www.nzcpr.com/open-letter-to-national-members-of-parliament/#more-18464
Over the last few months, you will have received many messages from New Zealanders, concerned that your Party is considering allowing iwi to become involved in the allocation and control of the country’s fresh water. As you know, fresh water is vital to our survival and the thought that a private group, with strong vested interests in owning the resource and deriving an economic benefit from it, could be given controlling authority over its use, is simply unacceptable to most people.
This, of course, is not the first time tribal leaders have sought control of this essential resource.
They tried it on with Helen Clark’s Labour Government in 2006, when some of the country’s most powerful tribal leaders came together to demand control of water. They wanted a price on water to trigger a settlement, which they believed would ‘dwarf’ the $170 million fisheries settlement of quota, fishing company shares, and cash, they had received when the quota management system was introduced in 1986.
But the Clark Government rejected their advances and stood firm, upholding the long-held position of successive governments, that water is not owned, but is controlled and managed by the Crown for all New Zealanders.
Labour’s position was, in fact, consistent with the recommendation of the Government’s ‘Red Book’ guide to Treaty settlements, Healing the past, building a future – a Guide to Treaty of Waitangi Claims and Negotiations with the Crown, which states that in such matters, the Crown has a duty to act in the best interests of all New Zealanders: “The Crown must govern in the interests of all New Zealanders. In considering redress options it must balance the grievances and aspirations of Maori claimant groups with matters such as continued protection of and public access to conservation areas, and the overall management in the national interest of resources such as water, petroleum and geothermal energy.”
Given the consistent stance taken by Labour, it has been a shock to find out that your Party appears ready to cede to the demands of Iwi Leaders through Nick Smith’s fresh water reforms.
To see exactly what Iwi Leaders want, you should read for yourself the claims outlined last year by their Freshwater Group – a group that has developed a close association with Ministers and government officials.
Essentially, they not only want owner
ship of fresh water, but also of the beds and banks of all of New Zealand’s lakes and rivers. They want a price on water so they can gain commercially from controlling the resource. They want to be involved in every aspect of fresh water decision-making. They want to establish new “Rohe Protection Areas”, where they would have total autonomy – full control of waterways, with a prohibition on the involvement of Councils or the Department of Conservation unless required by the tribal group. In addition, they want $1 billion of taxpayer funding to build their capacity to manage and control fresh water……
Continue reading Dr Muriel Newman's 'Open Letter' here > www.nzcpr.com/open-letter-to-national-members-of-parliament/#more-18464
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