If the High Court grants Māori customary rights over freshwater, bottled water operations could be shut down. A Waitangi Tribunal claimant hopes his High Court case will force the government into a fair process granting Māori customary rights over freshwater so bottling export operations can be shut down. Waitangi Tribunal claimant Maanu Paul is preparing a case for the High Court to determine whether native title in freshwater exists under New Zealand common law. A landmark Waitangi Tribunal report in August found Māori have rights over fresh water in New Zealand, and Paul said the tribunal had recommended the case be taken to the High Court. "That is based on the principle view that we have and the evidence that we have to hand at the moment, which says that there is no law that has extinguished Māori customary rights to water.

Source: Stuff January 14, 2020 03:45 UTC