14 Mar 2012

Judicial conference held on freshwater claims

7:53 pm on 14 March 2012

The Maori Council says it's expecting to hear over the next 10 days whether or not its claim on freshwater will be heard under urgency by the Waitangi Tribunal.

The claim was filed with the backing of 11 hapu groups in February.

The council has demanded that the Government doesn't sell any shares in four state-owned energy companies until its case has been heard.

Maori Council spokesperson Maanu Paul says some progress was made on Tuesday during a conference in getting its position heard.

He says the chief judge has given until this Friday for late submissions to be filed.

Mr Paul expects a written decision on whether the freshwater claim will be heard under urgency by the Waitangi Tribunal, within 10 days.