Abstract
A new statute for fresh water has been proposed by the New Zealand Mäori Council to give legal stature to water as elemental to life. This would remove fresh water from governance through the RMA, where it is managed as one among many resources. A new law would also remove water from neo-liberal settings and the wider context of commercial interests that have pervaded the interpretation of the RMA. An independent Freshwater Commission would be the centrepiece of the regime, with iwi/Mäori representatives included as commissioners. Mauri is proposed as the standard for water quality, and allocation and commercial use to be accommodated within this standard of ecosystem health. New water councils at catchment and rohe levels would engage hapü interests and have implementation responsibilities. This is a vision with pathways for facing challenging issues that have escaped resolution: Mäori rights and interests, equity of allocation and wider public good interests.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.