RMA Framework needs close scrutiny - Māori Party

Hon Tariana Turia and Te Ururoa Flavell, Maori Party Co-leaders

Saturday 10 August 2013

Māori Party Co-leaders Tariana Turia and Te Ururoa Flavell have expressed a cautious response to the Resource Management changes announced by National this morning.

“Iwi remember clearly that National’s 2008 Election Manifesto promised it would strip the RMA of Section 8 (The Treaty of Waitangi clause) and that it was only through the advocacy of the Māori Party that we were able to retain that clause in the Act. We have to be pleased that the clause has been retained in the latest reform” said Mrs Turia.

“We are however, always keen to promote a wider understanding of how to make the Treaty work in today’s times and are disappointed that the reform proposals are a missed opportunity to advance the concept of co-governance with iwi in freshwater planning.”

“The Land and Water Forum recommended a national body with 50:50 co-governance – instead this appears to have been reduced to iwi having ‘a seat’ on collaborative stakeholder groups.”

“The days are long gone when effective participation with iwi becomes interpreted as one seat at the table.

"We are absolutely clear, we will NOT support legislation that breaches the rights and responsibilities of hapu and iwi."

“The jury is also out on the nature of the working arrangements councils should establish with iwi. The recognition of iwi rights and interests in freshwater needs to be tangible and meaningful. If we are to ever achieve effective iwi participation in water management and the RMA then government needs to demonstrate sustainable commitment to that relationship.”

“On the upside, we are pleased that kaitiakitanga is restored into its own right after being minimised in the discussion document. The principle of kaitiakitanga derives from the Māori world view that tangata whenua (people of the land) are intimately connected to the land and nature. And we are very proud that we have been able to increase the statutory weighting accorded to kaitiakitanga from ‘have particular regard’ to the new wording – ‘recognise and provide for.’”

“There also appears to be greater clarity on the role of iwi and hapū in resource management planning and increased transparency on how iwi and hapū interests are considered by councils (improved section 32 reporting).”

“There’s a lot of water under the bridge still to flow before the Bill comes to a vote. The Māori Party will be actively seeking guidance from whānau, hapū and iwi as the detail of the proposals becomes known.”

ENDS

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