Prime Minister John Key says coming to Whakatane to meet with Mataatua iwi has been a great opportunity _ but he's not budging on water rights.
A collective of Mataatua iwi (tribes) from around the Bay of Plenty met Mr Key and Maori Party MPs at Te Manuka Tutahi Marae today to present the Mataatua Declaration on Water, signed at a hui earlier in the day.
Mr Key said it was a great opportunity to be able to meet with the Mataatua iwi but had responded with a firm "no'' when asked if the Government's views on water rights would change.
"No one owns water, we don't agree with that proposition. Our view is Maori don't own water, they have a connection to the water _ like a lot of New Zealanders.''
Mr Key said the Crown recognised Maori rights under the Treaty of Waitangi and said he believed the Govern ment had been "fair and clear'' with that.