There is much speculation about the future status of our country's freshwater. There is also much to be concerned with on the proposed changes to the Resource Management Act.
This has been clarified by Winston Peter's state-of-the-nation speech last week.
Under the new bill, every council in NZ will be required by law to involve iwi authorities in participating in the creation of policy plans – which also includes water management plans.
Mr Peters confirmed that the tribes ultimately want ownership of all Crown-owned river and lake beds and the water column contained within. They will own all the freshwater in our country and they will sell it back to us for a profit – hence their demand for a fund of
$1 billion to include economic mechanisms! Maori have been working on this race-based legislation since 2007 and are proceeding cautiously so as not to awaken us from our slumber.
The most enlightening statement of all from Mr Peters is this comment:
'The proposed changes to the RMA are a signal flare to the entire country that this is taking us down the track of separatism. We are no longer one people. We are moving towards two separate groups with separate rights.
'The Treaty is being used to expand the separate rights of Maori.” I find this extremely sad!

R Bishop, Tauranga