One would have to question the rationale of the Maori Council in claiming ownership of water for Maori.
There is a finite amount of water in this world and it takes thousands of years to go through the continuous cycle of ice, melts, underground rivers and aquifers, springs, rains, transpiration, evaporation, clouds etc.
Now which part of water do maori want to own, which part do they want? Is it only the part of water that will make them an eternal stream of money?
‘Ownership' brings with it ‘responsibility' and should the Waitangi Tribunal or the law give maori ownership of water, then my question is ‘will maori be financially responsible for the huge financial costs that, at this time, accrue to the private person and the tax and rate paying public from the devastation to infrastructure and the countryside caused by water, flood and weather events?'
I don't think so and it is my personal opinion that there a more well adjusted and thinking maori out there who are fed up with the continual opportunism of the elite maori minority who are promoting the racial divide in New Zealand.

Maureen J Anderson, Pyes Pa.