My understanding that the rotten core of the rort that was the Nanaia Mahuta and Labour Maori Caucus driven Water reform is still in place despite legislation having been passed to rescind this ill advised plan and to return the assets to Council ownership.

In Particular I refer to Taumata Arowai and its off shoot Te Puna – Maori Regulatory Body. There are other sub sets of Taumata Arowai but the one I see as being the most dangerous to democracy and necessary changes to the insidious water reform is Te Puna which is headed by Tipa Mahuta. The following is its mandate as copied directly from the website:

`Te Poari o Taumata Arowai (the Board) is responsible for the governance of Taumata Arowai and Te Puna is integral to the success of that governance. The Memorandum of Understanding sets out their expectations and intentions to work as partners. Ministers have appointed two dual members of the Board and Te Puna to act as a bridge between the partners.

Download PDF [255 KB]:Memorandum of Understanding

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Board and Te Puna sets out their expectations and intentions to work as partners.

Download [PDF, 255 KB]

Te Puna advises on Māori interests and knowledge as they relate to the objectives, functions and operating principles of Taumata Arowai and the Board’s collective duties. This includes: 

  • developing and maintaining a framework that provides advice and guidance for Taumata Arowai on how to interpret and give effect to Te Mana o te Wai  
  • providing advice on how to enable mātauranga Māori , tikanga Māori, and kaitiakitanga to be exercised 
  • any other matters as agreed by Te Puna and the Board.

The approved Terms of Reference of Te Puna are included below.’

I have not been able to copy and paste the Terms of Reference so here is a link which includes them and most of the above.

https://www.taumataarowai.govt.nz/about/our-team/maori-advisory-group

As far as I can establish both David Seymour (ACT) and Winston Peters (NZFirst) are committed to overturning Co-Governance and entities like Taumata Arowai so why isn’t this happening as a matter of some priority as happened with returning the water infrastucture to Council Ownership.

The longer it is left the more it will fester and the more embedded it will become.

AS far as I can tell the hold up is Prime Minister Christopher Luxon who still harbours ideas of some forms of Co Governance. Could someone tell him that train left the station if not on Election Day then definitely on completion of the Coalition Agreements.

New Zealanders made their views on the future of Co Governance quite clear.

It was a resounding – WE DO NOT WANT IT!!!! on election day.

So Christopher Luxon get on and get rid of these relics of the last Labour Government – it is what the people of New Zealand voted for.