South Waikato hapu Pouakani says it would have been working on a court injunction to halt the sale of Mighty River Power today if the Government had not delayed the sale.
"That was the meeting we were going to have today but of course the decision has given us more time to meet and consider the way forward," Pouakani spokesman Tamati Cairns said this morning.
Pouakani this year won a Supreme Court ruling in its favour in relation to the Waikato River bed near Mangakino where Mighty River has dams.
Prime Minister John Key yesterday announced the partial sale of Mighty River would be delayed from late this year to sometime between March and June next year to allow the Government time to consult affected iwi.
The announcement was in response to the Waitangi Tribunal's interim recommendations on the Maori Council's claim that the sale should be delayed until Maori water rights were dealt with. However, Mr Key ruled out the tribunal's recommendation of a hui to consider Maori water rights on a national basis.