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Prime Minister John Key talks to the media - Source: ONE News
The Maori Council today proposed taking ownership of New Zealand's freshwater in an attempt to halt asset sales.
The council made an application to the Waitangi Tribunal in which it claims Maori never gave up their ownership of the freshwater now used for power generation.
Prime Minister John Key is confident the Government is meeting its legal obligations despite threats of legal action over its plans to partially sell four energy companies.
"In my view no one owns the water. It's like air, no one owns the air."
Key said the Land and Water Forum had been consulting widely, including with Maori, over water rights.
The Government was also going through a consultation period over whether a general Treaty clause should be included in legislation allowing the sale of the state-owned companies.
"Some people have made statements to say they'll do whatever they can to slow the process down, I'm not saying that's specific to those interests, but some people have made that claim," Key said.
The Government had campaigned on the issue and intended to carry on with its plans.
Key said he did not expect the Council's actions would delay things.
"There'll be endless debates about usage rights, and they'll certainly claims it's taonga (treasured) and it's been a long-standing debate."
The Council is seeking a piece of the 51% share the Government plans to retain in each of the energy companies.
It said it would vote with the Government, would not sell the shares and wants a representative on the board of each organisation.
Dividends received would be put into a trust and would go to
those who were found to have rights over the water.
