Whanganui Hui - SOE Act

Yesterday I attended the consultation hui at Whanganui.  The purpose was to allow maori, as partners with the crown in the governance of New Zealand, as outlined within the Treaty of Waitangi, to discuss crown obligations under this treaty, and how they should impact legislation allowing the crown to sell 49% of specified state assets, primarily energy companies.

The government has received a hostile reception to this proposal, and the Whanganui hui was no different. Readers of this blog will be aware of my personal views on this matter. It was stated several times that to consider such a sale at this time was premature as there were many historical treaty grievances that should be considered first.  These grievances were primarily about water, and as some of these energy companies had hydro-electric assets these sales were premature.  The informed reader will know that the New Zealand Maori Council has taken action through the courts to prevent this sale.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon. Bill English was present the crowns view.  His primary claim to legitimacy for the process was that it was voted on in the election, and that he had more than a mandate, a duty to push this legislation through.  No one asked him how many of his grandchildren voted for removing their inheritance.  Other topics were raised included whether the government could be trusted, the state of waterways and mineral exploration.

Mr English waxed eloquently about how the government about the protect the environment from the environmental dangers of deep sea oil exploration. Ignoring the fact that capping a blowout in 3000m of water would be impossible.  We saw that it took months to cap the blowout at the deep water horizon well at a mere 1500m depth in the Gulf of Mexico.  This is despite the wealth of expertise and resources available in the USA.  Dispatching oil rigs to drill relief wells would take months to get here, let alone do the job.  As for operating equipment at 3000m where the pressure is around 4500psi - yeah right - will believe it when I see it.

To make statements about how the Government would make drilling safe, and yet allow drilling in areas where it is clearly unsafe is yet another example of the dishonesty of our polluters/politicians.  The Maori are wise to mistrust him.


Tony Wallace