Like most kiwis wanting a peaceful path towards reconciliation
and meaningful compensation for past mistreatment of Maori by agencies
representing the Crown, l have been proud of the settlements that in most cases
appeared to be fair, recognising as we must, that nothing will ever truly
compensate for some of the significant losses that have occurred.
It is clear that none of the settlements that have been
negotiated would have happened without the large amount of goodwill contributed
by Maoridom itself.
As a nation, the progress we have made towards
reconciliation (which is light years ahead of any other county on the planet)
is almost entirely due to the genuine desire by both parties for a shared
future. Hopefully those aspirational attitudes will continue until we reach a
stage where we can all claim that justice has finally been served.
Only then will we be free to move on towards a society that
allows equal opportunity for all who would benefit from the egalitarian model
that is within our grasp.
Unfortunately, recent events suggest we are fools if we think any of that is possible.
Sadly, in my opinion, we are (like most of the free world)
moving towards an alternative that is based on identity politics that is
inspired by a minority wish for separate development.
Who would have thought this could happen in a country like
ours that leads the world in its approach to race relations?
But we must face reality.
What else must we take from the current High Court actions
of two of the nation’s largest Iwi (Ngai Tahu and Kahungunu) who are seeking a
determination that will effectively hand over control of a large part of their
respective fresh water reserves. These moves are motivated differently to the
Government’s proposed legislation that would transfer oversight of only the
“Three Waters“ (ie. waste, drinking and storm water), from the local councils
to a new group of entities that will supposedly include equal representation
from local/central government on the one hand and Iwi as the Crown’s treaty partner
on the other.
However the expressed aim of these Court challenges is for
local Iwi to gain CONTROL over much of the nation’s fresh water reserves that
include major rivers and other storage capacity like aquifer reserves. We can
be sure that the Government will be hoping they succeed as it will legitimise
any expansion of the new law governing over-sight to include virtually all
fresh water reserves.
I am sure that the average voter will not have recognised
these latest moves as a power grab by stealth - one that we should all oppose
before it gets out of hand and sets the two treaty partners on a collision
course that will destroy all the good work that has gone into establishing
these honourable settlements over decades.
This is the sort of thing that should be debated with
Council at the current round of community meetings to discuss the local version
of the long term plan. Early indications from the meetings held to date in this
region are that ratepayers are concerned with, above all else, Council’s lack
of a clear programme safeguarding our fresh water security and waste water
disposal. Giving the responsibility for developing that plan to someone else
with little affinity for Tairawhiti is a recipe for disaster especially if the
new authority favours one section of the community when making decisions that
affect us all.
We should be demanding to know where our Council sits on this issue.
Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.
3 comments:
Water belongs to all New Zealanders. Ex PM John Key opened a can of worms (and a door) when he naively and stupidly said "water belongs to no one."
Clive, thank you, well written. A few points:
1. I fail to understand how the High Court has the jurisdiction to hand over control of fresh water to any group - unelected judges can simply make a declaration that iwi never handed over water - under what legislation? The Court should simply have refused to hear the case.
2. The Hawke's Bay Regional Council decided, without public consultation, to support Ngai Tahu's bid. The Council's main decision making body, the Planning Committee, is co-governed by Kahungunu. The obvious conflict of interest demonstrates the inherent corruption that follows (unless, of course you believe that (1) Kahungunu won't benefit financially and (2) the move isn't simply a power grab; and (3) that iwi Maori have an innate genetic advantage over others in freshwater management).
A sad state of affairs. He PuaPua in action - the breaking of democracy.
Good Lord Clive, where have you been? 'Who would have thought this could happen in a country like ours...' The momentum for where we are today has been building for years. There are Maori opportunists (Harawira, Tamahere, Jackson etc.) who have been playing the long game for ages. Give them and inch and they demand a mile! Unfortunately, thanks to NZ voters for giving Labour the mandate, this is the tip of the iceberg. Get used to it NZ.
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