Maori will rule section of airwaves

By AUDREY YOUNG

The Government has handed Maori control of a parcel of high-frequency radio waves, among those to be auctioned in July.

But National is warning that it sets a precedent for opening up all manner of claims to Maori.

The concession reverses a decision National took last year to auction the 2 GHz spectrum without setting aside any spectrum for Maori. National had then rejected a majority recommendation by the Waitangi Tribunal that Maori had ownership rights over the spectrum.

One of the first decisions of the Coalition Government was to put the auction on hold and yesterday the new plans were unveiled.

Acting Communications Minister Trevor Mallard said the Labour-Alliance Government also took National's view of the tribunal - effectively rejecting it. But he also announced how Maori would effectively be given control of a part of the airwaves.

The spectrum has been parcelled into four lots for auction. But one of them will be sold only to a party with a commitment to involve Maori in the development of the spectrum as a joint venture partner.

The high-frequency spectrum to be sold can support third-generation cellular technology, including high-speed Internet access to cellphones.

In the next six weeks, the criteria for the preferred bidder will be developed by Mr Mallard, the Minister of Maori Affairs, Dover Samuels, and Government Maori MPs.

Mr Samuels said the Maori control would be set up through an electoral college comprising all sorts of Maori groups - iwi and urban organisations and others such as kohanga reo and the Maori Women's Welfare League.

The larger groups would elect a board, which would then talk to telecommunications companies to determine a preferred bidder.

The Government will set aside $5 million to help Maori get into the spectrum.

Companies will be able to bid for any or all of the four parcels on the Internet-run auction but may be successful in only one, a rule designed to maximise competition.

Labour backbencher John Tamihere, an urban Maori advocate, said that whatever percentage of the joint venture the Maori partner held, any benefits would be distributed for all Maori.

No single iwi, such as Ngai Tahu or Tainui, would be able to enter the joint venture as a sole partner, although there was nothing stopping them bidding for the other three.

"We've been given an option to have a go at this asset to try and keep it onshore and to keep a Kiwi handle in there. This gives us an opportunity to buddy up with people who will introduce equity and fresh skills."

The outcome would be "really good for New Zealanders" but he distanced himself from notions of a precedent for Maori.

"There is a potential, without setting any precedents, because of the approach being taken for Maori involvement in something which is very, very exciting."

There is no guarantee that Maori groups will not litigate over the airwaves but Mr Samuels hoped this arrangement would satisfy them.

But National's communications spokesman, Maurice Williamson, said yesterday's decision set "a phenomenal precedent" for Crown minerals and for all sort of other resources that have since been discovered and exploited by the Crown.

"It's an enormously discriminatory policy against New Zealanders if one group of people are going to have a right to something like this which is a very new technology, which isn't a traditional treaty right."