Maori tap into water rights

By Daryl McIntosh
26 July 2005

Maori own Manukau water and should be guaranteed a place on the board of directors running Manukau Water.

That's the opinion of Laurie Beamish from Ngai Tai Umupuia.

"Water ownership is really in the hands of the heavens. But we as first representatives here in Aotearoa have a big part in that," says Mr Beamish.

"Mana whenua has a view that the ownership of water lies with Maori."

Manukau Water is being turned into a stand-alone company by the Manukau City Council. It will be run by its own board of directors.

A forum of representatives from mana whenua in Manukau is calling on the council to appoint some one from its ranks as a director.

Mr Beamish says directors need to consider spiritual values when running the company, as well as financial, environmental and cultural matters.

Provisions under the Resource Management Act for tangata whenua are not sufficient, Mr Beamish says.

"The best person to take into account tangata whenua issues is someone from mana whenua.

"The person would have commercial skill sets as well as spiritual skill sets," he says.

The council's strategic directions committee rejected the plea to reserve a place on the board for a mana whenua representative, but the issue still has to be considered by the full council.

A council report says appointing a mana whenua representative as a director is inappropriate because the board must be skills based.

"A board member is required to act in the interests of the company. It may not always be possible for a board member appointed to represent Maori, or any other group, to act in both their groups' interests and those of the company."

But the idea has strong support from deputy mayor Anne Candy and councillors James Papali'i and Arthur Anae.

Mr Papali'i says the council needs to show some leadership and allow mana whenua to appoint someone to the board.

"I don't see what the council is afraid about. Why don't we just have some courage for a change?"