Last week David Rankin said there would be Maori claims they should be paid wind royalties for wind power. This was questioned as a possible wind up – because it seemed so ludicrous – but apparently it’s serious.
Ngapuhi lodge claim over wind
Ngaphui have formally lodged a claim at the Waitangi Tribunal for commercial use of the wind.
Spokesperson David Rankin says the tribe is making a pre-emptive move before any wind farms are set up in Northland.
He says the wind can be classified as a protected ‘taonga’ – or treasure – and Maori should have a say in how it is used in commercial power generation.
“Like fish in the 1980s, and water more recently, wind will become a property right and its commercial use will be a tradable commodity,” says Mr Rankin.
He says non-commercial use of the wind will not be affected, and that any criticism of the claim is “flatulence”.