New Zealand

Maori King calls national hui over water rights

The Maori King has called a national hui for iwi and hapu to discuss water rights after the Government refused to call one.

RadioNZ,

5/09/ 2012

The Crown on Monday said it would delay the partial sale of shares in Mighty River Power until 2013 to allow more time to consult with Maori after an interim report from the Waitangi Tribunal found that Maori have proprietary rights over water.

The sale is now expected to take place between March and June next year.

The Crown is refusing to talk with the Maori Council, the body that took a claim to the Waitangi Tribunal over water rights. Instead, it is choosing to talk directly with iwi along the Waikato River that would be affected by the sale.

The situation has prompted the Maori King to become involved.

Spokesperson Tukoroirangi Morgan says Kingi Tuheitia has called a national summit which will be held at Turangawaewae marae in Ngaruawahia next week.

This hui is separate to one being planned by the Maori Council.

Mr Morgan says Tuheitia has invited the council to talk at the summit and it is a chance for Ngai Maori to meet and discuss water rights.

The hui will be the first in almost 30 years. The last iwi meeting on this scale was held over Maori fishing rights in 1985.

Forum member says council has done its job

A member of the Iwi Chairs Forum says it might be time for the Maori Council to step aside from the water rights debate.

Haami Piripi is thankful the council took the claim to the Waitangi Tribunal.

However, he believes the council has done its job proving through the tribunal that Maori have proprietary rights and the Government is acting on the interim report.

Mr Piripi says perhaps the role of the council is now not as a lead advocate, but as a watchdog over what happens next.

Halt to demolition of heritage buildings wanted

Radio NZ,

5/09/2012

A Christchurch City Council committee wants an immediate halt to the demolition of heritage buildings because it believes many are coming down too quickly and without enough consultation.

The community recreation and culture committee on Tuesday voted three to two to write to the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority asking for a moratorium on heritage demolitions.

Chair Yani Johanson said the authority's powers need to be reined in before more demolitions are rushed through.

And he said a moratorium should stay in place until a heritage recovery programme is put in place.

Some 37% of listed heritage buildings in central Christchurch have already been demolished.

Fall in coal prices blamed on drop in China

RadioNZ,

5/09/2012

An energy consultant says a sudden fall in China's building boom is behind falling coal prices and prices may take longer than the usual 10 year cycle to recover.

Murray Ellis told Morning Report that coal is currently in a super cycle, which means the dip will be longer than the standard 10 year commodity cycle.

Solid Energy on Friday announced a suspension of operations at the Spring Creek mine on the West Coast while it reviews the mine's future.

Chief executive Don Elder said keeping Spring Creek open does not make economic sense.

West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O'Connor told Morning Report on Wednesday that the miners know changes have to be made to drive down the cost of production, but that did not mean the mine has to be shut down.

Mr Ellis said the cost of transporting coal from the coast to Port lyttelton for export, was also a considerable factor.