13 Nov 2013

Iwi pleased power station's effect exposed

10:04 pm on 13 November 2013

The Kahui Maunga iwi say they are pleased that the Waitangi Tribunal has exposed the damage a Tongariro power scheme is having on its waterways.

Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngati Rangi and Whanganui iwi received the tribunal's report on the National Park District Inquiry on Tuesday.

It found that Maori never gave up their rights to the park's mountains or waterways. It also says that water is a huge taonga (treasure) for iwi and the power scheme has badly damaged many waterways.

The tribunal also found that the Crown committed a number of Treaty breaches against central North Island iwi when the Tongariro National Park was created.

Ngati Rangi spokesperson Che Wilson says people are not aware that 26 waterways are being diverted to Lake Rotoaira to generate power.

He says waterways have dried up and lost their stock because of the scheme, and people need to be aware that this was all done without proper consultation.

Mr Wilson says the North Island could have pristine rivers such as in the South Island if the water wasn't diverted.

The tribunal recommends the Government pay major compensation to iwi over past and present electricity generation and the use of Lake Rotoaira to store water stretching back to the 1970s.

The Tribunal's reports are non-binding, and a Ngati Tuwharetoa leader says he has some concerns about how this Government will respond to the report. Napa Otimi says the Government has chosen not to listen to the tribunal's findings in the past.

State-owned Genesis Energy owns the power scheme, but the Government has been quick to say its partial sale can still go ahead, despite the tribunal's recommendations, which are non-binding.