Climate Change Minister James Shaw’s admission that the Government is considering becoming the exclusive purchasers of carbon units from forest owners highlights a clear plan to nationalise the earnings from the Māori green economy and force owners of whenua Māori into a new dependence on the Crown, says Māori Climate Commissioner Donna Aware Huata.

Speaking to media last week, James Shaw said the Government was exploring forestry’s place in the ETS and “One option was the Government became a buyer – or even the exclusive purchaser – of units from forest owners.”

Māori Climate Commissioner Donna Awatere Huata says whether this is dangerous speculation designed to soften the market for change or a clear plan to nationalise the earning of foresters around the country, the assertion should be a wakeup call for every Māori forest owner.

“Shaw’s proposal would see the Government take total control over the carbon market,” says Commissioner Awatere Huata.

“They would set the price, control the volume and ultimately take any real profit from the credits earned by Māori landowners and foresters for themselves – effectively reducing any real opportunity Māori have to build on the opportunities of the green economy.”

The potential impact to Māori in terms of lost investment and earnings is estimated to be up to $16 billion.

Commissioner Awatere Huata says once again, the chance for Māori to determine their own future in a free and fair market is in danger of being crushed by an over-reaching Government.

“Māori have seen this time and time again,” says Commissioner Awatere Huata. “With the green economy, an opportunity has emerged for Māori to finally earn real returns from the – frankly – rubbish land begrudgingly returned to us in the Te Tiriti settlements.”

“Instead, the Government plans to reach out the hand of control and decide how much it will pay Māori for the results of generations of investment in forestry, while taking enormous profits for itself.”

“This is the history of colonialism writ large. This coloniser Government seemingly cannot stand to allow Māori to determine our own path and generate our own intergenerational wealth without succumbing to the instinct to control, limit and direct.”

“It is clear this Government cannot see a future where Māori are not in some way dependent on the Crown for what they earn, with all the opportunities to control our future this brings.”

Commissioner Awatere Huata says she cannot believe this policy is one that would sit well with the flax roots of the Green Party of Aotearoa.

“I find it impossible that the Ministers musings on this path of nationalisation could be Green Party policy,” says Commissioner Awatere Huata.

“No number of promises about establishing native forests can surely be worth trading away the rights of Māori to manage Whenua Māori as we see fit.”

Commissioner Awatere Huata says the Government must immediately denounce this nationalisation programme.

“There can be no partnership under Te Tiriti when one party holds all the power. Māori will fight this creeping nationalisation at every step, to ensure we maintain control of our whenua for the good of future generations.”

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