------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/1dTolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~->
National stance brings tears to Maori eyes 12.10.2004 By RENEE KIRIONA http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3599687&thesection=news&thesubsection=general A Maori woman shed a tear as she watched Don Brash stand on the edge of Lake Rotorua to say her iwi can have the money but not the lakes. The National Party leader was announcing his position on the Government's proposal to settle the Rotorua-based tribe's Treaty of Waitangi claim. That offer, which is expected to be signed off by the two parties this Friday, includes giving the tribe title to 13 lakebeds, $10 million compensation, an apology from the Crown and representation on a board that would manage the lakes. About 25 people turned out to the lakeside press conference - held only metres away from the site where in 1997 Te Arawa symbolically marked their claim to the lakes by staking a pou whenua (traditional Maori pole) in the lakebed. Among them were mostly National officials and members of the Rotorua Lakes Protection Society, which has turned to the High Court in a bid to stop the deal. "The Te Arawa deal is wrong. It's wrong for the people of Rotorua today, and it's wrong for the future of our country," Dr Brash said. "The compensation payment should be recognised because the annuity Te Arawa got in the 1922 agreement was never indexed to inflation, but giving them the lakes is wrong and so too is setting up a board that gives them representation purely because of their race." He also believed the settlement would set a bad example. "National believes the Te Arawa lakes deal will become a Trojan Horse for other such claims throughout New Zealand. We fear this settlement will become a template for others. "Today we are sending a clear message that the lakes and the foreshore should belong to everyone." Although it was a National Government that agreed to enter into negotiations with Te Arawa, he accused Labour of creating an uncertainty around the ownership of national treasures. "Labour cannot be trusted to deal honestly and transparently with these issues. We already know the Government is involved in secret discussions with Tainui and Ngati Porou about treaty claims to the foreshore and seabed." Dr Brash also took the opportunity to reiterate his party's policy on the treaty. "National has realistic deadlines for lodging and settling legitimate claims. We want all claims lodged by 2006 and settled by 2010." But Te Arawa woman Huriana Te Napi Clarke, who quietly cried in the background during Dr Brash's speech, was not convinced. "Listening to him makes me extremely sad. For us it has never been a Maori or Pakeha issue. For us it has been more of a landlord and tenant issue. "My husband and I only stumbled across this speech because we were walking our dog in the area. I think we're the only Maori here besides the two that came with Brash, but I'm glad I never missed it." Mike McVicker, a spokesman for the lakes protection society, said his group would push the issue even more when its lawyer goes into conference with a High Court judge this morning. "I'm delighted they [National] are on board. It vindicates the four years that we have been working on this. Our goal is to stop this deal." Three staff from Te Arawa Maori Trust Board, which is heading the claim, arrived only minutes after Dr Brash's speech. Two police cars were on patrol in the area, but there were no disruptions. The only vocal dissenter, Trevor Coker, said there were most probably two reasons Te Arawa members did not show up to protest. "My wife is Ngati Tuwharetoa but I'm thinking they're not here either because they are sick of him [Dr Brash] or because they didn't know about this." The Herald was notified of the venue for the speech only on Sunday night. Dr Brash's chief press secretary, Jason Ede, said the venue was given at short notice to prevent any disruptions. Where to now? * Te Arawa Maori Trust Board and the Crown sign draft deed of settlement. * Registered iwi members (over 18 years of age) are sent documents containing all settlement details and voting forms. * Seven meetings are held for Te Arawa to discuss the deed. * After the last meeting is held, iwi members are given two weeks to vote on the deed. * If successfully ratified, the deed will be signed by the board and the Crown. (The board expects that this process will be completed before Christmas.) Herald Feature: Maori issues http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?reportID=1162603 =========+========= FEEDBACK? http://nativenewsonline.org/Guestbook/guestbook.cgi GIVE FOOD: THE HUNGERSITE http://www.thehungersite.com/ Reprinted under the Fair Use http://nativenewsonline.org/fairuse.htm =========+========= Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Native News Online a Service of Barefoot Connection FREE LEONARD PELTIER!! "YOU ~ARE~ THE MESSAGE" Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Nat-International/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
