February 10, 2020
RMA reform too rushed for Ngai Tahu
Ngāi Tahu has told parliament's environment select committee it needs to talk to the South Island iwi before pushing ahead with reform of the Resource Management Act.
Ngāi Tahu freshwater governance group co-chair Te Maire Tau says its takiwā includes 62 per cent of Aotearoa’s surface water resources and 81 per cent of total groundwater volume.
He says Ngāi Tahu retained rangatiratanga over the freshwaters of its takiwā and its treaty settlement committed the crown to a new age of co-operation with the iwi.
The reform timetable as overly ambitious timetable and flawed process.
He says any planning process under the RMA must provide for dual decision-making powers; representation that reflects the Treaty partnership; and decision-making in accordance with the Treaty and the principles upon which it was founded.
Ngāi Tahu supports the retention of section 360 D of the RMA and the ability of a Minister to over-ride local body decision making, where there is a need to intervene with direct Crown/iwi conversation. It would enable the potential for meaningful action to follow that improves outcomes for iwi at the local level. This is on the basis the Minister upholds the Crown’s Treaty obligations and respects Ngāi Tahu’s rights, interests and values.
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