Post by Kiwi Frontline on May 22, 2020 4:07:46 GMT 12
MĀORI LAND COURT RULES IN FAVOUR OF ACTIVISTS IN FIGHT OVER POLLUTED LAKE HOROWHENUA
Two activists in a long-running fight over badly polluted Lake Horowhenua have had a big win in court.
The Māori Land Court has ruled in favour of Phil Taueki and Charles Rudd.
The two have battled the lake's trustees elected to represent other beneficiary owners, and Taueki has had high-profile clashes with the district council.
Now the judge, in a 100-page ruling, says the trust could have got on with projects to try to protect the lake, if it had properly followed its own rules, but it did not.
Rudd's lawyer Linda Thornton said it was a landmark on a long road.
"Ultimately there were issues about protecting wāhi tapu and significant sites ... and my client was concerned about how decisions were being made.
"In the Māori land law, Te Ture Whenua Māori, there is a provision that talks about the role of the court in protecting an oppressed minority against an unreasonable majority and vice versa.......
www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/417171/maori-land-court-rules-in-favour-of-activists-in-fight-over-polluted-lake-horowhenua
Two activists in a long-running fight over badly polluted Lake Horowhenua have had a big win in court.
The Māori Land Court has ruled in favour of Phil Taueki and Charles Rudd.
The two have battled the lake's trustees elected to represent other beneficiary owners, and Taueki has had high-profile clashes with the district council.
Now the judge, in a 100-page ruling, says the trust could have got on with projects to try to protect the lake, if it had properly followed its own rules, but it did not.
Rudd's lawyer Linda Thornton said it was a landmark on a long road.
"Ultimately there were issues about protecting wāhi tapu and significant sites ... and my client was concerned about how decisions were being made.
"In the Māori land law, Te Ture Whenua Māori, there is a provision that talks about the role of the court in protecting an oppressed minority against an unreasonable majority and vice versa.......
www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/417171/maori-land-court-rules-in-favour-of-activists-in-fight-over-polluted-lake-horowhenua