WAITANGI TRIBUNAL RELEASES REPORT ON FRESHWATER AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Last week the Waitangi Tribunal released its report on stage 2* of the National Freshwater and Geothermal Resources inquiry. The report recommends two specific amendments to the Resource Management Act 1991 and a number of paths and mechanisms for co-governance and co-management.

We have yet to fully study the report, but in the meantime offer the following information:

The New Zealand Law Society synopsis of the report, see ‘Waitangi Tribunal freshwater report released’
An overview of the report's key recommendations by law firm Simpson Grierson: Waitangi Tribunal releases Stage 2 Report on the National Freshwater and Geothermal Resources Claims

(Also look out for the next Simpson Grierson FYI update, in which they promise will take a closer look at some of the key aspects of the report and their potential impact).

*The inquiry was divided into two stages. The stage 1 report was completed in December 2012. This was followed by a period in which the Crown developed its freshwater reforms. The stage 2 hearings were held from November 2016 to November 2018

Media Coverage

NZ Herald: Waitangi Tribunal report on freshwater calls for courts to test ownership rights of Maori

Newshub: 'Locked Maori out': Waitangi Tribunal finds Māori freshwater rights must be better recognised

RNZ: Waitangi Tribunal slams Crown over freshwater failures

Newsroom: Tribunal sets pre-election test over water

Waatea News: Tribunal adds ammunition for water rights battle

Freshwater Waitangi Tribunal

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New Land and Water Regional Plan for Otago Regional Council

Apr 06, 2022

Image source: https://www.orc.govt.nz/media/11399/hierarchy-of-plans.jpg The Otago Regional Council (ORC) is in the process of developing a new Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP) - in partnership with Kāi Tahu iwi. Together, they are talking with catchment groups, industry groups and subject experts to help develop the region’s new Plan for freshwater. This plan will include rules and limits on water and land use. Continue reading

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Update on the Three Waters Reform Programme

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Influential role for Maori at new Water Services Regulator

Feb 21, 2020

Taumata Arowai—the Water Services Regulator Bill, open for public submissions until 4th March, seeks to create a new water regulator - to be called Taumata Arowai. The Bill includes provision for a Maori advisory group to work alongside this new Crown entity. The Maori Advisory Group is another manifestation of the government’s commitment to support agencies to form true partnerships with Māori "by actively facilitating new prototype partnerships between the Crown and Māori", as outlined in a cabinet paper released in July 2019, 'Building Closer Partnerships with Māori'. Continue reading

Action Plan for Healthy Waterways

Nov 05, 2019

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Have your say on looking after our water

Oct 04, 2019

The Ministry for the Environment is proposing a raft of legislative and regulatory changes to clean up lakes and rivers within “a generation”. Continue reading

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Apr 08, 2019

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Maori Council demands the control of water

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Government's Freshwater Policy

Nov 06, 2018

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Ports of Auckland continues to defend made-up history

Sep 06, 2018

Our working group has been campaigning to have the new memorial plaque on the Ports of Auckland frontage removed and replaced with one that reflects the facts. As outlined in the August edition of our newsletter, the Ports of Auckland say they are happy with the wording on the plaque and do not intend to change it. The plaque erroneously states "Te Kawau gifted 3000 acres to establish the City of Auckland." It replaces a plaque which referred to a purchase rather than a gift. Continue reading

Waitangi Tribunal intent on destroying stable Government

Oct 05, 2018

In 2014 the Waitangi Tribunal released a controversial report that claimed Maori did not give up sovereignty. "That is, they did not cede authority to make and enforce law over their people or their territories," the Tribunal said. In a brief statement responding to the report, Attorney-General and Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson said: "There is no question that the Crown has sovereignty in New Zealand. This report doesn't change that fact." Continue reading

Ports of Auckland defends the peddling of a myth

Aug 08, 2018

The new memorial plaque on the Ports of Auckland frontage, Quay St, states "Te Kawau gifted 3000 acres to establish the City of Auckland." It replaces a plaque which referred to a purchase rather than a gift. Factual evidence shows that there is no doubt the land was sold. In an attempt to set the record straight, several of our members have contacted the CEO of Ports of Auckland, Tony Gibson, requesting that the plaque be corrected to reflect the facts. Continue reading

The widespread re-writing of our history – lies, lies and more lies!

Dec 07, 2017

In an article published on Breaking Views on November 14th Bruce Moon, a retired computer pioneer and author of ‘Real Treaty; False Treaty - The True Waitangi Story’, laments the insidious effort to erase our true history, accounts of which appear in the news media almost every day. Continue reading

The Waitangi Tribunal – a corrupt system?

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