David Cunliffe: Waitangi Tribunal Decision & Genesis Energy
David Cunliffe's weekly pre-caucus press conference – 12 November 2013
By Hamish Cardwell
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David Cunliffe said he agreed with a Waitangi Tribunal decision due today which states Tongariro Iwi never relinquished
ownership of water in the area. Mr Cunliffe this finding would affect the sale of Genesis Energy, and that all asset
sales should be stopped.
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At his weekly pre-caucus press conference Labour leader David Cunliffe was asked his views by journalist Patrick Gower
about a Waitangi Tribunal report on Tongariro, due today, which states Iwi never relinquished their ownership of rivers
in the region. Mr Gower asked Mr Cunliffe what this meant for the sale of Genesis Energy.
Mr Cunliffe said he agreed with the findings of the Waitangi Tribunal and that it was a good reason to stop the assets
sales program.
“This was not a problem when all New Zealander's owned these assets through the crown. As soon as you try and rip the
ticket and sell them off to a small percentage [of New Zealanders] these problems occur.”
He said New Zealand's water policy was “ill-formed” and required “ a lot more thinking”.
On other matters Mr Cunliffe said former Labour MP John Tamihere had a “snowflake's” chance of becoming a the Labour
candidate. Whether or not he would be allowed to back as a Labour Party member was for membership, but Mr Cunliffe said
he would not be in any hurry to sign him up.
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ENDS