Calm down over water issue
Calm down over water issue
Commentator
Willie Jackson says New Zealanders need to calm down over
the water issue. On TVNZ’s Marae Investigates
programme today he said concerns about Māori taking over
water were being blown out of proportion.
“Māori have proved in the past that we’re not
going to bankrupt this country. We didn’t hit the
country for billions when we lost our land. South Canterbury
Finance got $1.6Billion over night we got $1Billion over 25
years. We’re hardly going to bankrupt the country over
water. “
Mr Jackson told interviewer Miriama
Kamo that the Prime Minister was trying to manipulate the
discussion.
“What Key has done this week is
he’s sort of turned the nation against Maoridom subtly
playing the race card saying, you’ve got to watch out for
these Māori, they’ll sell off the water. I think what
people have to do is listen to what Sir Eddie Durie has to
say. He’s a very reasoned spokesman on this. He says
it’s not about Māori owning the water, it’s about
looking after Māori interests. “
Willie
Jackson says the word ‘ownership’ is emotive.
“Especially Maori’s owning water, that’s what drives
some of the talkback callers crazy. But it’s not about
that and Māori have said we don’t mind the Crown looking
after the interests as long as they look after everyone’s
interests. But a Te Arawa spokesman said when you made it
51% and you want to sign off 49% to other interests that
changed the whole
game”
ENDS