7 Aug 2012

Iwi hui agrees on Maori unity over water

7:15 am on 7 August 2012

A hui in Wellington of iwi representatives has established unity among Maori over water rights.

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples hosted the meeting in Wellington on Monday afternoon, ahead of a meeting on Monday night with Prime Minister John Key.

The hui was attended by members of the Maori Council and the Iwi Chairs Forum, including Tuwharetoa paramount chief Tumu te Heuheu, Mark Solomon of Ngai Tahu and Toby Curtis of Te Arawa.

The Maori Council's water rights inquiry lawyer, Felix Geiringer, says the hui helped resolve a misconception on the part of the Government, namely, that iwi chairs spoke only about Maori's water management rights and not their proprietary interest.

Mr Geiringer says members of the forum told the gathering they did discuss water management with the Government, and never looked to exclude the topic of proprietary rights.

Dr Sharples says the hui was very cordial, with those present acknowledging each other's efforts for water rights.

He says the meeting agreed to set up a structure so Maori can properly discuss among themselves their rights and interests in water.

Dr Sharples says he's confident Maori will unite, even though it appears to be a big job.

He says because iwi and hapu have been fighting their cause before courts and councils for many years there is plenty of material available - it's just a matter of having a co-ordinated approach.

Dr Sharples says a key part of the structure would be the ability to investigate individual water right cases.