The New Zealand government has been told to delay plans to partially sell four energy companies until a decision is made on whether the sale could breach the rights of New Zealand’s indigenous people guaranteed by the country’s founding document.
New Zealand indigenous Maori are claiming ownership of geothermal and water resources used by the energy companies under the 172-year old Treaty of Waitangi document, which promised Maori undisturbed possession of their properties including lands, forests and fisheries unless the tribes sold these to the British Crown.