24 Aug 2012

Leaders head to capital for tribunal report release

7:15 am on 24 August 2012

Some Maori leaders have travelled to Wellington on Friday for the release of a Waitangi Tribunal report into water rights.

The Maori Council and other claimants fear rights could be lost when the Government sells stakes in selected state-owned enterprises - including hydro-power generators.

The inquiry heard the share sale should be delayed until historical water claims have been resolved.

The tribunal has agreed to a Government request to release a shortened version of its findings on Friday, followed by a full report at the end of September.

The Maori Council says the truncated version will be publicly released at 4pm.

The claimants say they're not standing in the way of asset sales but do want proper recognition of Maori proprietary interests in water.