Maori wind claim lodged

Ngapuhi have unleashed the Maori god of wind against the Government's planned sale of shares in power-generating state assets by lodging a claim with the Waitangi Tribunal for a share in revenue generated by any future state-owned Northland wind farms.

The claim filed on Monday by outspoken Matarahurahu hapu leader David Rankin, of Kaikohe, says the lack of Crown payment to Maori for electricity generated by the taonga of wind is contrary to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.

He said like fish in the 1980s, and water more recently, wind would become a property right and its commercial use would be a tradeable commodity. He was supported by Ngapuhi Runanga chairman Sonny Tau and tribal leader Hone Mihaka.

Mr Rankin has said Native Americans have sought wind rights since 2008 and the Maori claim was part of a global struggle for indigenous property rights.

Act Party leader John Banks said yesterday the "opportunistic" claim would increase the feeling of separatism between Maori and non-Maori.

And AUT University historian and Treaty expert Paul Moon said use of the wind for commercial purposes did not deplete the resource and there was no evidence in the claim that the Treaty had been breached.

"Without any specific example of how the Crown has failed to protect Maori rights under the Treaty, this claim might not even get a hearing before the tribunal," Professor Moon said.

However, Mr Rankin yesterday told the Advocate the claim was a protest against the sale of state assets: "In reality, no one owns the wind, but Maori take umbrage over John Key selling the family silver."

Maori opposition to the sale of resources to foreign buyers had been shown by delays they caused to the Crafar-farms deal and the Maori Council water claim delaying the Mighty River Power shares sale.

"If profits from power generated by water and wind go into the pockets of everyone in the country that's okay, but Maori will make a stand if state assets are privatised," Mr Rankin said. "If you sell your assets you will be poor and your children will be poor."