Tupuna Awa

We have always owned the water . . . we have never ceded our mana over the river to anyone', King Tuheitia Paki asserted in 2012. Prime Minister John Key disagreed: `King Tuheitia's claim that M?ori have always owned New Zealand's water is just plain wrong'. So who does own the water in New Zealand - if anyone - and why does it matter? Offering some human context around that fraught question, Tupuna Awa looks at the people and politics of the Waikato River. Marama Muru-Lanning introduces us to the way M?ori of the region, the Crown and Mighty River Power have talked about water, ownership, stakeholders, guardianship and the river. Those conversations culminated in 2009 with a Deed of Settlement signed by Waikato-Tainui and the Crown that established a new co-governance structure for the Waikato River. By examining debates over water, Muru-Lanning provides a powerful lens into modern iwi politics and contests for power between M?ori and the State. A detailed look at the issues around water ownership in New Zealand- a major concern here and around the world. Will appeal to those with links to Waikato region as well as to the general reader with an interest in water ownership and the role of energy companies in New Zealand. The author is experienced in working with iwi and the crown and is a frequent spokesperson on related issues. Features stunning colour photography of the Waikato River and its surrounds .