Waikato deal won't block public, promises Clark

A draft settlement to the Tainui iwi's claim to the Waikato River is believed to be close. Picture / Greg Bowker

The return of the Waikato River to Tainui would not see the general public barred from access to the country's longest river, the Government says.

The Government is believed to be close to announcing a draft settlement with the Waikato iwi over its long-standing claim to the waterway.

Office of Treaty Settlements guidelines note that claimants may wish to enhance kaitiakitanga (guardianship) of a waterway through obtaining ownership of a riverbed, improved participation in resource management issues, promoting the health of the waterway and its use for fishing and other harvesting, and control of access.

Prime Minister Helen Clark told Newstalk ZB yesterday that the Crown's settlement with Tainui would accommodate the public's access rights.

She gave the example of the Te Arawa Lakes settlement, covering lakes near Rotorua which, if passed by Parliament, would still allow public access.

"In that particular settlement, for example, the title of the lake bed but not the water has gone to Te Arawa people," said Helen Clark.

Treaty Negotiations Minister Mark Burton has confirmed that talks with Tainui were progressing well, but refused to put a date on the announcement of any proposed settlement.

That settlement would require consultation with Tainui and the wider community before ratification.

It is understood the Government is pressing for details of the draft settlement to be announced at celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the coronation of Dame Te Atairangikaahu as Maori Queen. Festivities begin tomorrow and the Cabinet and Governor-General attend on Monday.

An Environment Waikato spokesman said the regional council had been consulted on aspects of the potential settlement "which were relevant to us".