'No talk of Waikato water fee'

The Government is looking at returning the Waikato River to Maori. Picture / Amos Chapple

Maori claimants have never mentioned charging for water once the Waikato River is returned to them, says the company that uses the river as the source of some of Auckland's drinking water.

Watercare Services spokesman Owen Cook said yesterday that the bulk-water company got about 20 per cent of Auckland's daily needs free from a treatment plant on the river near Tuakau.

He was responding to a report in the Weekend Herald saying the Government was close to a deal to return New Zealand's longest river to Maori claimants and Tainui would expect at the least a co-management role in the major economic resource.

Treaty Negotiations Minister Mark Burton said yesterday that he would not comment on talks in progress, and the discussions with the Tainui tribe were still under way.

"The detail of the negotiation is not something that either side will talk about, because in every such negotiation the process involves getting to a point where there is an agreement in principle," Mr Burton said.

"We are proceeding well, but every negotiation has its own momentum. There can be slow periods and there can be periods of rapid progress. I've never got into the business of, for instance, predicting a date by when things might happen.

"This is a negotiation in which I've been impressed by the goodwill which people have brought to the table and their willingness to engage positively and constructively and that's got to help with any negotiation."

Tainui chief executive Hemi Rau said the tribe had "no comment at this stage whatsoever". Tainui co-negotiators Lady Raiha Mahuta and Tuku Morgan said there would be no announcement at this week's celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the coronation of the Maori Queen, Dame Te Atairangikaahu.

The negotiators said a draft agreement would first have to be ratified by Dame Te Ata, followed by consultation with Tainui and the wider community.

Watercare and Genesis Energy - which uses cool water from the river for the Huntly power station and is then allowed to discharge heated water under strict environmental limits - have been unaware of the negotiations.

Mr Cook said Watercare had good relations with Tainui and recognised the tribe's special relationship to the river.

There had never been any discussions about payment for the water, he said. "They have always spoken in terms of their kaitiaki - guardianship - status over the river."