(Kei raro te panui i te reo Maori)

Hon Dr Pita Sharples
Minister of Maori Affairs

5 August 2012 Media Release
Hui of iwi leaders and claimants on fresh water

The Minister of Māori Affairs has called a hui of iwi representatives and claimants to the Waitangi Tribunal on Māori custom and interests in fresh water.

“My hope is that, by coming together to discuss the issues, all groups will be clearer about each other’s thinking, and may be able to find a way to achieve their collective aspirations,” said Dr Sharples.

“Each iwi has its own customs relating to fresh water, and each will follow its own pathway to maintain its mana – and that is fine,” he said.

“The main thing is that each iwi understands the thinking of the others, so they don’t end up in conflict with each other, or jeopardising each other’s position.

“With mutual understanding, the views and the stances of the diverse Māori groups can be aligned in their dealings with the Crown – that is the goal.

“I will be conveying to the Prime Minister the messages from the hui, and the tone of the discussions, so he is clear about the diversity of approaches taken by iwi.

“I hope these issues can be resolved through leadership discussions, so it is not left to the Courts to determine Māori custom.

“Through mutual understanding of each other’s thinking, we may be able to find a way to protect the mana of tangata whenua,” said Dr Sharples.

Hon Dr Pita Sharples
Minita Take Maori

5 August 2012 Whakaputanga korero
Hui o ngā iwi me ngā kaitono mo ngā wai maori

Kua karangatia e te Minita Māori tētahi hui o ngā iwi Māori, kaitono ki te Rōpū Whakamana i te Tiriti hoki, mo ngā tikanga me ngā panga o te tangata whenua ki ngā wai maori.
“Ko te tūmanako, ma te whiriwhiri kōrero, e marama ai ngā whakaaro o tētahi ki tētahi, kia kitea ai he kaupapa e tutuki ai ngā tūmanako o ngā iwi,” te kii a Takuta Pita Sharples.
“Kei tena iwi, kei tena iwi ona tikanga e pa ana ki nga wai maori, ka whai tena, tena i tona ake huarahi kia pumau ai tona mana. Kei te pai tera.
“Ko te mea nui, kia mohio tena iwi, tena iwi ki nga whakaaro me nga mahi a etahi atu iwi, kia kore ai tetahi e tukituki ki tetahi, kia kore ai tetahi e raruraru i tetahi,” hei tana.
“Ma te māramatanga o tetahi ki tetahi, ka kaha ake ai nga reo me nga mahi a te tangata whenua e hangai ana ki nga mahi a te Karauna – koira te tumanako.
“Ka haria atu ki te Pirimia nga korero mai i te hui o nga iwi, me te wairua o nga korero, kia marama ai ki te Pirimia nga ararau e whaia ana e nga iwi.
“Ko te tumanako, ka tutuki nga take i runga ano i nga korero rangatira, kia kore ai e waiho ma te ture o tātou tikanga e whakawa.
“Ma te māramatanga o tetahi ki nga whakaaro o tetahi, tera ka kitea tetahi huarahi e puritia ai te mana o te tangata whenua,” te whakapae a Takuta Sharples.

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