PRESS RELEASE

Another Victory for the New Zealand Maori Council

MANA Leader and MP for Te Tai Tokerau Hone Harawira

Tuesday 23rd October

“Congratulations to the New Zealand Maori Council for putting another snag in government’s plan to sell our state assets” said MANA Leader and MP for Te Tai Tokerau Hone Harawira.

Today the High Court granted the Council’s interim leave application to stop Mighty River Power being transferred from a State Owned Enterprise to a Mixed Ownership Model company.

“That puts a temporary halt on government’s plans to privatise Mighty River Power” said Harawira “something all New Zealanders can be grateful for”.

“Following on from their refusal to back down to government pressure not to progress the claim, and their win at the Waitangi Tribunal, the Council and those hapu and iwi who have lined up alongside them to seek formal clarification of Maori rights to water, deserve the thanks of Maoridom and the wider New Zealand population for their efforts to keep New Zealand assets in New Zealand hands” said Harawira.

“John Key will be smarting over comments from Justice Ronald Young that government’s proposals would prejudice the NZMC claim, and that much like the battle over fish, radio airwaves and forests, the Crown will most likely lose this scrap over water too” said Harawira.

“But he’s the one who refused to consult widely with Maori, he’s the one who refused to engage with Council, and he’s the one who should be held accountable for the selfish and short-sighted manner in which he has tried to ram through his asset sales plan in spite of widespread opposition from both Maori and non-Maori right throughout the country” said Harawira.

ENDS

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