David Cunliffe: Waitangi Tribunal Decision on Genesis Energy

David Cunliffe: Waitangi Tribunal Decision & Genesis Energy

David Cunliffe's weekly pre-caucus press conference – 12 November 2013

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By Hamish Cardwell

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David Cunliffe said he agreed with a Waitangi Tribunal decision due today which states Tongariro Iwi never relinquished ownership of water in the area. Mr Cunliffe this finding would affect the sale of Genesis Energy, and that all asset sales should be stopped.

At his weekly pre-caucus press conference Labour leader David Cunliffe was asked his views by journalist Patrick Gower about a Waitangi Tribunal report on Tongariro, due today, which states Iwi never relinquished their ownership of rivers in the region. Mr Gower asked Mr Cunliffe what this meant for the sale of Genesis Energy.

Mr Cunliffe said he agreed with the findings of the Waitangi Tribunal and that it was a good reason to stop the assets sales program.

“This was not a problem when all New Zealander's owned these assets through the crown. As soon as you try and rip the ticket and sell them off to a small percentage [of New Zealanders] these problems occur.”

He said New Zealand's water policy was “ill-formed” and required “ a lot more thinking”.

On other matters Mr Cunliffe said former Labour MP John Tamihere had a “snowflake's” chance of becoming a the Labour candidate. Whether or not he would be allowed to back as a Labour Party member was for membership, but Mr Cunliffe said he would not be in any hurry to sign him up.

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