Photo / Moana EllisTangata whenua grappling with a deluge of environmental and water reforms say setting up "super-entities" to deal with water would widen the gap between Māori and decision-making. Māori from Ruapehu, Whanganui, South Taranaki and Rangitīkei are organising regionally to develop a comprehensive position on resource management reforms and freshwater rights and interests. A hui in Whanganui heard from technical advisors to the Freshwater Iwi Leaders Group on some of the Government's high-level proposals for resource management and water reforms. "The discussion around water rights and interests has been on the backburner for a long time. Under Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Settlement) legislation, Pou Tupua Dame Tariana Turia acts and speaks in the name of Te Awa Tupua (the Whanganui River and its tributaries).

Source: New Zealand Herald May 14, 2021 04:41 UTC