consult doesn't mean a con + salt

Has kingkey consulted with maori in the far north around the minerals they want to exploit?

From Waatea News

"The Northland Regional and Far North District Councils yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Economic Development to conduct an aeromagnetic minerals survey of one and quarter million hectares."

Haami Piripi from Te Runanga O Te Rarawa says tangata whenua were left out because the Crown has taken the rights to the most valuable metals.

“This is very serious issue from our point of view. It reflects the extent to which there is any goodwill on the part of the Crown in terms of treaty settlements. We see the conservation estate as not available for treaty settlements but it is available for mining. That really expresses the hypocrisy,” Mr Piripi says."

Yes I have an issue with that point as well. The conservation estate is not being protected for all people - it is being slowly eroded as they commodify it. Why is it that? Why can they do that on one hand and on the other they say "no, no no we cannot put the conservation estate into treaty settlements - even though the land was stolen and cheated they still cannot consider it because - it is being protected for all people - but it isn't being protected - is it?


kingkey has waded in

"The Prime Minister says Tai Tokerau iwi were consulted about plans to conduct an aerial survey to identify mineral deposits in Northland."

But John Key says there are opportunities for discussion throughout the process.

“The far north and the West Coast of the South Island, both will be subject to an aerial survey of non-schedule 4 land so they’re not the pristine conservation stuff. We’re gong to fly over, have a good look, decide whether there is much there. At that point we will say ‘yes there are substantial mineral deposits there and we want to issue a prospecting license,’ at that stage then obviously there will be potential discussions,” Mr Key says.

Maori would have rights to minerals found on their land, other than gold, silver, oil and gas.

"They're not the pristine conservation stuff" - tells you a lot about kingkey and none of it good if you believe in protecting our world.
Is it a good idea to have the 'potential discussion' after they find their minerals rather than before? Does that make sense in any worldview? Of course it makes sense if you are not really going to discuss or consult at all because remember maori don't have the rights to anything other than what they are given. The crumbs from the table, the leftovers. This whole approach is topsy-turvey. Have the discussion and consultation NOW, get some way forward NOW, treat people with respect NOW.