New Zealand: asset sales

-->

Maori speak as one on water rights

A 1000-strong gathering of Maoridom has voted to boycott the Government's fast-track consultation over asset sales and agreed to a united front on Maori water rights

Stuff

14 September, 2012

In the biggest threat to the Government's asset sales programme so far, Maori representing some of the country's biggest and smallest tribes descended on Ngaruawahia's Turangawaewae Marae for the gathering - a show of strength after the Government rejected a Waitangi Tribunal call for a national hui on water.

The hui, convened by Maoridom's King Tuheitia, overwhelmingly backed a resolution calling on the Government to halt the sale of power company shares until it had thrashed out a framework recognising Maori proprietary rights in water.

It also backed a resolution for that framework to be agreed before iwi and hapu enter into negotiations with the Crown over their water claims - and warned they could test the case in court if the Government worked around it.

Finally, it agreed that Maori should speak with one voice on the issue - a new body representing Maori interests across the spectrum will be set up to spearhead the negotiations instead.

That process could take months - and the first test of Maori unity will come as early as today when the powerful iwi chairmen forum meets in Ngaruawahia.

The Government has already set up a process for dealing with Maori rights and interests in water through members of the Iwi Leaders Group and the fresh water forum, which is looking at issues including water allocation rights.

The influence of the group was the focus of a clear undercurrent of unease among smaller tribes.

The king's spokesman, Tukoroirangi Morgan, said the iwi leaders knew what was expected.

“This hui has been very clear in its expectations - everyone stand down until those proprietary rights are clarified and recognised by the Crown. We will deliver that message tomorrow at the iwi leaders hui.”

Heading into the hui, there was building momentum for the Crown to give more urgency to recognise Maori rights and interests in water. But there was a far from unified view on whether those interests should be addressed as part of the asset sales debate.

Ngai Tahu chairman Mark Solomon said Maori all agreed on a collaborative approach toward settling water issues.

"From a Ngai Tahu perspective we don't believe the asset sales will affect the rights and interests of Maori from reaching an agreement."

But yesterday's hui revealed emotions run deep over the water issue.

Hokianga leader Rudy Taylor accused Prime Minister John Key of "driving us apart”. He told the hui that Maori on the Hokianga had never ceded ownership over water, but were paying $300 to fill their water tanks over summer.

King Tuheitia said Maori had always owned the water.

When he was a child, children could swim and bathe in the “crystal clear waters” of the Waikato River.

“Today [it] is a degraded body of water. From Ngaruawahia out to the sea you cannot swim or take kai from it.”

When his late mother, Dame Te Atairangikaahu died, her people had needed permission from the regional council to float her body by waka to Taupiri Mountain.

The power to manage and control water and allocate water rights should rest with Maori, rather than the regional councils, he said.

Former Maori Party president Whatarangi Winiata said hui were united in wanting Maori property rights over water sorted first before the asset sales went ahead.

"You can't proceed on that unless you know what your property is; and there is a question about who owns what and who is to exercise control over what. The Crown must not presume to exercise control over water.”

The Government earlier this month announced it was delaying the sale of shares in Mighty River Power till next year so it could consult affected iwi in the wake of the Waitangi Tribunal report urging a halt to the sales and a "shares plus" arrangement giving iwi shares and control over any mixed ownership power companies.

For background video GO HERE

Christchurch: Announcement 'bungle' angers school

RadioNZ,

14 September, 2012

The Government is being accused of insensitivity in an announcement on the future of Christchurch high schools, as part of a reorganisation in the wake of the Canterbury earthquakes.

Some 30 schools representing nearly 15% of the city's schools face being closed or merged under the Government's proposal.

Initially, Avonside Girls' High School and Shirley Boys' High School were included on the list of possible mergers or closures, though both are in fact still awaiting findings of geotechnical reports to confirm whether they could remain on their current sites.

The Ministry of Education later said it had no firm plans to merge or close high schools.

Chair of Avonside Girls' High School's board of trustees Tim Bergin told Morning Report the way the ministry delivered the announcement was very poor, and it would make no sense to close the school.

"It is just completely mind-numbing to understand how or why they've even come up with these proposals, and the manner in which they were delivered was just appalling."

Mr Bergin said geotechnical engineers are testing the school grounds and he believes it will be possible to rebuild on the land.

Christchurch East Labour MP Lianne Dalziel said she was appalled at the bungle, saying it showed insensitivity to the feelings of pupils of the schools and their parents.

The changes are part of a 10-year plan to repair and reorganise the education system in the wake of the Canterbury earthquakes.

One of the biggest changes will be in Aranui where many houses have been condemned because they are in red-zoned areas
.

There, the Government has suggested merging three primary schools, an intermediate and Aranui High School.

The president of primary teachers union NZEI Ian Leckie says hundreds of teachers jobs will go if the mergers and closures proceed.

Mr Leckie says the cuts are the last thing Christchurch needs after the disruption and uncertainty caused by the earthquakes.

Schools and their communities will be consulted on the proposals and decisions are due to be made next year.

'Attack on intermediate schools'

The principal of a Christchurch intermediate school says Government plans to reorganise the city's schools are a direct attack on intermediate schools.

Branston Intermediate in the west of the city is one of the schools which is on the list for closure.

Principal Jennifer O'Leary told Radio New Zealand's Nine to Noon programme she was surprised her school in the west of the city might be closed.

"There were 13 schools that were going to close, four of those are intermediate and two of those have no, or minimal, earthquake damage so I can't help but think it is an attack on intermediates."

In all there are 10 intermediate schools in Christchurch.