20 Sep 2012

Ngai Tahu to attend water hui

6:52 am on 20 September 2012

One of the largest iwi says it expects to attend the Crown's final hui on water rights and the partial sale of hydro-power generators.

The Government has invited Ngai Tahu to a consultation meeting in Christchurch next Thursday.

The kaiwhakahaere (chairperson) of the iwi, Mark Solomon, says he expects to be there and says his runanga's policy is to have a constructive engagement with the Crown.

Mr Solomon says he believes Ngai Tahu people will want to hear directly from the Crown and give their feedback.

The Government is part-way through a consultation tour which has up until now attracted few tribes.

Mr Solomon says the sale of shares in state-owned assets will not stand in the way of Maori securing meaningful recognition of rights and interests in water.