National Hui Provide Important Opportunity for Discussion

The Freshwater Iwi Leaders Group will continue to progress its work this coming week with two important hui being held in connection with rights and interests in water. On Thursday next week the Iwi Leaders Group will be attending the national hui called by Kingi Tuheitia in relation to the sale of State owned assets and on Friday they will be reporting to the National Iwi Chairs Forum.

“The two hui next week are important to the ongoing work of the Iwi Leaders Group and its engagement with the Crown”, said Sir Tumu te Heuheu, Chair of the Freshwater Iwi Leaders Group. “The national hui called by Kingi Tuheitia will provide the opportunity for the Iwi Leaders Group to clarify its role with the wider motu before reporting to the Iwi Chairs Forum the following day.”

The Freshwater Iwi Leaders Group was formed in 2007 to advance the interests of all iwi in relation to fresh water through direct engagement with the Crown. The focus of the Iwi Leaders Group from the onset has been on dialogue with the Crown in the context of the Crown’s review of the freshwater management regime. That review includes not only issues in relation to freshwater governance, values and decision-making, but also the important issue of allocation.

“Iwi have made it clear to us that their rights, interests and responsibilities in relation to water demand recognition in a substantive and meaningful way. That requires engaging on a range of issues that go far beyond the current Crown proposals in relation to the sale of shares in MOM companies”, said Sir Tumu.

“The Iwi Leaders Group has never sought to usurp the right of individual groups to progress their issues in whatever forum they choose. Rather, we have been clear that our engagement with the Crown is directed at two important matters. First, ensuring that the long term health and wellbeing of our waterways is at the forefront of any new freshwater framework, and secondly, ensuring that such framework fairly recognises and provides for iwi rights and interests within every catchment.”

The Freshwater Iwi Leaders Group was formed in 2007 and comprises the leaders of Ngai Tahu, Whanganui, Waikato-Tainui, Te Arawa and Tuwharetoa and reports regularly to all iwi through the national Iwi Chairs Forum. The Iwi Chairs Forum comprises the elected chairs of 64 iwi and that has reconfirmed the mandate of the Freshwater Iwi Leaders Group to advance its discussions with the Crown at each of the quarterly Iwi Chairs Forum meetings since 2007.

Freshwater Iwi Leaders Group: Sir Tumu te Heuheu, Tuwharetoa (Chair); Mark Solomon, Ngai Tahu; Toby Curtis, Te Arawa; Tom Roa, Waikato-Tainui; Brendon Puketapu, Whanganui.

ENDS

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