Moutoa Garden Protestors Win the Greatest Concession Ever Gained in the Name of the Treaty of Waitangi

A letter from Margaret Wilson, Treaty Negotiations Minister, to the head of the Whanganui River Maori Trust Board defies the purpose of the Resource Management Act process, says Gerry Brownlee, National’s Energy Spokesperson.

“This letter makes it absolutely clear that in a future settlement deed this Government is prepared to take from Genesis Energy all or any resource consents the state generating company might win through the resource management process,” says Mr Brownlee

“The inevitable consequence of the minister writing this letter is that Genesis will need to write a multi-million dollar cheque to the Whanganui River Maori Trust Board if they are to keep their consents to Whanganui River water and survive as a viable state owned enterprise”

“Perhaps the worst aspect is that the letter from the government creates two classes of citizenship in this country. No other group has protection from resource consents granted in the national interest,” says Gerry Brownlee.

“It is the most outrageous capitulation to spurious cultural and spiritual claims yet made,” Mr Brownlee said.

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