Waikato River - Now Privatised

[Dafe]

WTF, Tainui are people of New Zealand,

Im from the Waikato and I use the river regulary and in summer even 4-5 times a week so Im passionate about this issue.

Why do so many NZrs hear the word Maori and get all fucken anti?

Hey Quasi,

Tainui are people of New Zealand but are the people of New Zealand, Tainui?

I for one am not anti-maori. I am however against a dividing of the people of New Zealand. I support one New Zealand, equally for all.

My issue here, Is what is effectively the privitisation of NZ waterways by this government, purposefully behind the backs of New Zealanders. The methods this government are employing are what could only be considered - Communist like.

[Dafe]

Cripes, it seems like i'm behind the times.
To walk up Tarawera now, it costs $110. You need to be escorted.
No longer can you drive up there, unless you're with a tour company.

WTF??? That's simply indecent!

[Dafe]

Holy crap that's ridiculous! When I was a young'n it was free and we used to take our mountain bikes up to the top of the crater and slide all the way down, climb back up and start all over again. That would be a whole day's worth of fun! Though that was about 10-15 years ago...

Eh?

IF.....I made it to the crater, I'd be rolling down the hill and there'd be no contemplation of a single step back towards the top.
Mind you, I always walked up the Devils staircase which is pretty tough going.

[Ixion]

,, The methods this government are employing are what could only be considered - Communist like.

Would that they were. Quite the reverse in fact.

[Skyryder]

There's a big difference between privatisation as this thread has claimed and (joint) guardianship of the river which seems to be the stickng point of negotiatians. (along with the river users continued access to the river) Considering the stand the Labour took over the foreshore issue I just can not see them handing over the Waikato to Tainui. The Government has always acknowledged that Tainui has a 'speacial' rel;ationship to the river. There is nothing new in this. Second to that I am not aware of any Waitangi negotians fully open to public scrutiny and this one is no different.

Let's see what the final outcome is before jumping to conclusions.

Skyryder

[MidnightMike]

Why do so many NZrs hear the word Maori and get all fucken anti? .

Maybe crime you dumbass. :eyepoke:

Anyone know the figures?

I think it could be a big mistake giving it back to tainui ( Im not racist, im part maori myself ) Thing could turn to shit pretty quickly. For example it could turn out like how mt tarawera did, which is pathetic.

Cripes, it seems like i'm behind the times.
To walk up Tarawera now, it costs $110. You need to be escorted.
No longer can you drive up there, unless you're with a tour company.

Hows is 20 buck to swim in the river sound?

[Hitcher]

I took the opening gambit in this post (privatisation of the Waikato River, and allegations of secret meetings) as a trolling wind-up.

The best Tainui can hope for is "ownership" of the riverbed. The Crown will not cede ownership of the water in the river. A sub-optimal outcome from Tainui's point-of-view.

[Switch]

Surely they wont tax people for using it. On the upside i hope they crack down on pollution into the river, i would like to see it become a clean river

[MidnightMike]

Surely they wont tax people for using it. On the upside i hope they crack down on pollution into the river, i would like to see it become a clean river

I agree, if they can cause it to be less poluted then great, tax it then go get :spudgrr:

[Hitcher]

For example it could turn out like how mt tarawera did, which is pathetic.

At the risk of sounding all left-wing and tree-hugging, the issue here is property rights.

I am sure that if any people here had freehold title to Mount Tarawera, they'd be charging people access fees as well. Access comes at a cost -- even the stuff you "freely" enjoy is largely funded from your taxes through Vote Conservation. Look how much DOC charges people to walk the Milford Track. Access fees for the Abel Tasman National Park aren't far away either, as a means of both restricting access and paying to maintain walking tracks, huts, etc.

If we have learned nothing from nearly 200 years of "colonisation" in New Zealand, we should have learned that people can't be trusted with the environment without regulations. Otherwise they'll happily fuck it up and then moan incessently about how unfair regulations are and how much better things were in the "good old days".

I should also mention that Maori have legitimate grievances for how they were dispossessed of land and their access to waterways by our colonising forefathers. If they have legitimate claims, then they are entitled to a fair settlement. It is that processes that the Waitangi Tribunal is all about.

[MidnightMike]

I should also mention that Maori have legitimate grievances for how they were dispossessed of land and their access to waterways by our colonising forefathers. If they have legitimate claims, then they are entitled to a fair settlement. It is that processes that the Waitangi Tribunal is all about.

Yes they are legitamate, but the are not cool when you are told to leave you home and bugger of because you are on 'our land' like the farmer that was on the news a while ago.

[DingDong]

sorry...I didnt read the whole thread... its bullshit.

You will be dead in less than 100 years... the land will be here for 1000000's of years, do you really think you can own any of it?

The best we can do is safe guard it for our children... that is, what Tainui and other Tribes are doing... saving it from your industrial pollution.

Your more than welcome to cross my land when ever you like, but if you fuck with it... I'll attack you

[MidnightMike]

Your more than welcome to cross my land when ever you like, but if you fuck with it... I'll attack you

Woo hoo! I second that

[Devil]

As for access fees, I have nothing against them, if they're reasonable.
Back when it was $35 or whatever to take a 4wd up Tarawera I'd pay that happily, but raising it to over $100, then removing access altogether unless you open you wallet to a tour company? Fuck that.

It seem that my future kids will just have to be happy with the photos.

[Blackbird]

As for access fees, I have nothing against them, if they're reasonable.
Back when it was $35 or whatever to take a 4wd up Tarawera I'd pay that happily, but raising it to over $100, then removing access altogether unless you open you wallet to a tour company? Fuck that.

It seem that my future kids will just have to be happy with the photos.

I share that view. I've been up on a few occasions many years ago but went up with a tour company about 2 years ago as we had an overseas visitor who wanted to see it. It was an elderly kaumatua who did the guiding and he was outstanding - had real mana. However, I won't be paying that price again for what is a relatively short time at the top. Photos may well be the only option for most but they regrettably don't do justice to the phenomenal views.