The Waitangi Tribunal interim recommendation putting a brake on state asset share sales until it produces findings on water rights has been greeted with relief and delight by Northern Maori leaders.
Te Rarawa Runanga chairman Haami Piripi and Whatatiri Maori Reserve Trust chairman Taipari Munro were particularly pleased because their people have water rights claims they want the tribunal to address.
A Te Rarawa claim for the 280ha bed of drained Lake Tangonge taken by the Crown as surplus lands and a Whatatiri trust claim for the Poroti Springs were included with the Maori Council claim which led to the tribunal recommendation for the Government not to proceed with asset share sales until at least September, when it will release its final report.
However, Ngapuhi Runanga chairman Sonny Tau tempered his pleasure with caution about Prime Minister John Key saying the Government need not abide by tribunal recommendations.
"The big question is how much notice the Government will take of the report the tribunal will produce in September?
"If the Government disregard the report it will be at their peril as Maori will test it in a court of law," Mr Tau said.
Mr Munro said the Whatatiri trustees were pleased with the interim recommendation as it would give the tribunal time to make fully informed decisions for its September report, which would be crucial to action the trust would soon be taking in the Environment Court.
The trust was opposing an application by "people living in Paritai Drive in Auckland" seeking long-term access to the high-quality Poroti Springs water. "They want to sell the water to China and make a lot of money while the people with centuries of strong cultural ties to the resource will be left with nothing," Mr Munro said.
Whatatiri people wanted to be there when decisions were made about the springs water, he said.
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