8 Feb 2012

Iwi keen to invest in SOEs but not at Treaty expense - Pikia

7:46 pm on 8 February 2012

The head of the commercial arm of Te Pumautanga o Te Arawa Trust says many iwi are keen to invest in state asset shares - but not at the expense of losing treaty provisions in SOE legislation.

Roger Pikia, the chief executive of Te Arawa Group Holdings Limited, attended the first iwi consultation meetings in Rotorua on Wednesday.

In order for partial sales to proceed, the subject of asset sales must first be removed from the State Owned Enterprises Act and then included in new legislation.

Mr Pikia says Maori are keen to invest but proposed legislation changes need to be clarified first.