Tribes Eye Stake In Airports, Roading Projects
February 5th, 2009
Maori want a role in developing infrastructure projects such as toll roads, and not just driving the bulldozers but in investing and owning them as part of public-private partnerships. Work is under way to discuss such a plan with Prime Minister, John Key, and Finance Minister Bill English. The move the infrastructure investment idea was discussed at a hui in Wellington called by Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples. It is seen as a way of investing some of the $1.018bn in Treaty of Waitangi settlements, particularly by wealthier tribes such as Waikato-Tainui and Ngai Tahu.
Partnerships with Crown. The notion of iwi getting involved in infrastructure emerged from the “tribal assets” workshop chaired by Tuwharetoa Paramount Chief Tumu Te Heuheu. Erima Henare, of Ngapuhi says, “They actually want to have a viable partnership with the Crown and with private enterprise in the development.”
Leveraging asset bases. Erima Ngapuhi cited the $360m Northern Gateway motorway extension north of Auckland as an example of how such partnerships could work. “If, say, Ngapuhi, Tainui, Ngai Tahu and Te Arawa for instance, came up with $100m, that is one third ownership in the process.” The road is in state ownership and under National’s promises could not be sold this term but it could be a future candidate for a public-private partnership. Tainui iwi chairman, Tukuroirangi Morgan, believes Auckland International Airport could be a candidate for iwi investment. “Maori have to aggregate its economic wealth and leverage in order to secure some of this country’s largest assets, including Auckland International Airport, and if we don’t it will be lost forever.”
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