December 09, 2022
Anti-Māori driving three waters opposition
Waikato Tainui leader Tukoroirangi Morgan says the passing of the first three waters bill is a watershed moment for Aotearoa New Zealand.
Mr Morgan, who chairs the Entity A Iwi Regional Representative Group covering 45 hapu and iwi groups from Bombay to the Far North, says it provides iwi Maori with the first genuine say on how water services will be developed and managed.
He says attacks on the reform and on Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta show some people feel they are about to lose their power.
“People in power, especially those in the councils, hate the fact people who look like me, who are Maori, are sitting at the table making decisions alongside them. Maori have always been excluded from the decision-making table. It’s the reason why there is an ongoing assault on Nanaia Mahuta, and the iwi of Waikato Tainui, we stand completely and totally alongside her,” Mr Morgan says.
He says councils have done a poor job over the years managing water infrastructure.