Maori
interests failed to convince the Supreme Court that partial privatisation of
Mighty River Power will materially impair government ability to provide
compensation for any yet-to-be decided claims to water rights. This court ruling leaves government free to
sell a 49 per cent stake in its state-owned energy companies.
In the North Island,
Maori interests claim that control of their rivers and streams was usurped by
settler interests after signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Government says there is no validity to these
claims and sees Maori demands as a means to claim economic rents for a natural
resource available to all.
Legislation last
century bound the government to provide compensation for any agreed Treaty
claims with the return of disputed assets as one form of compensation.
Representatives of
Maori with interests along the Waikato River argued that government plans to
sell part of its interest in Mighty River Power should be stopped; a sale would
diminish assets available to meet Treaty claims over ownership of Waikato
water.
The Supreme Court said
there is no logical reason why government should be forced to keep, against its
will, a minority shareholding in energy generating companies which are
unconnected in any meaningful way to underlying Treaty claims.
A partial sell-down of
shares does not amount to a sale of the company, Mighty River Power, or to the
disposal of assets held by the company.
The Court said that
government retention of a 51 per cent shareholding in Mighty River Power and with
it majority control of the company means that government retains substantial
capacity to provide redress for any Treaty claims. Government can later issue further shares
which can be offered as compensation, or use cash generated from Mighty River
dividends to pay compensation.
Maori
Council v. Attorney-General – Supreme Court (27.02.13)
13.005