Hone is correct about canterbury asset grab

Hone is right. The Environment Canterbury Bill and the sacking of the Environment Canterbury regional council and appointment of commissioners is an attempt to steal water and then minerals (read mining). It is a farce and a direct attack upon our people and environment.

From Waatea News

"Maori Party MP Hone Harawira says principles introduced in a bill for managing Canterbury rivers will effectively replace the Resource Management Act, to the huge detriment of Maori and the nation as a whole.

The Environment Canterbury Bill was introduced yesterday, a day after the Government sacked Environment Canterbury regional council and replaced it with commissioners.

Mr Harawira says the bill was sneaked into parliament during the foreshore and seabed debate as a local measure, but in fact it gives unelected commissioners total administrative power, cutting out the Minister for the Environment and the Environment Court.

“You are taking out of the hands of government agency an asset that has critical value to the whole nation and putting it in the hands of officials who are appointed by a Government hell bent on commercialising assets,” he says.

Mr Harawira says the asset grab won't stop at water but will include other minerals and natural resources.

No Right Turn has some good information on this here and here and here and here and here