13 Nov 2013

Iwi head doubts Maori job prospects from dam

7:47 am on 13 November 2013

The chairman of a Hawke's Bay iwi says the proposed Ruataniwha Dam will do nothing to improve Maori unemployment in the region and could in fact cause Maori to lose jobs.

The site of the proposed Ruataniwha Dam.

The site of the proposed Ruataniwha Dam. Photo: RNZ

Hawke's Bay Regional Council says studies show more than 2000 full time jobs will be created when the dam is at full capacity, but it has provided little detail.

Ngati Kahangunu chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana says the dam will do nothing to change the 22% Maori unemployment rate in the region.

He says the sheep and beef industry in Central Hawke's Bay will be replaced by dairying and cropping, meaning the freezing works and shearing gangs that employ Maori will be marginalised.

Mr Tomoana says much of the farm work will go to migrant labourers from the Phillipines and Pacific Islands.

The Ministry of Social Development is on a working group looking at job prospects from the dam, but says it's too early to talk about employment prospects in any detail.