A Personal Opinion Piece by Councillor Mike Plowman.
Horizons Regional Council.
The Resource Management Act. 1991
Purpose and Principles.
My view is that the Resource Management [RMA] 1991 is a document, Act of Parliament that was not designed to supersede other Acts pertaining to the regulation of water and soil.
It’s purpose is to implement Maoridoms Cultural Beliefs, to reconnect their spiritual connection with their lands through the overly restrictive use of rules and regulations, imposing ever increasing costs on Resource users, bringing about land use change. Over time that will bring about falling land values as the costs of meeting these overly restrictive rules and regulations combined with the financial impositions of a volatile free and floating currency creating a unsustainable economic climate in which to do business.
This will bring about change of ownership. Who will own it?
Does Maoridom in their naivety seek to create a situation where they can one day buy back these lands at bargain basement prices? Or do they recognize the enormity of the task. The fact that they are a minority ethnic grouping in a ever increasing ethnic diversity in NZ and are seeking to stamp their Mana on NZ society by controlling the use of water, thus all things Natural and Physical before the inevitable rush of foreign investors engulfing NZ seeking to secure the future food and fibre needs of their economies?
The Principles used to achieve the above are pretty simple. Subjectivity and illusion. Create a document, an Act of Parliament first. “The Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.” Then the Act of parliament to implement the Principles of the Treaty. “ The RMA”.
Through various amendments to the original Act, replacing wording which denotes meaning , interpretation. eg Rangitiratanga, all peoples, with Kaitiakitanga, exercise for the benefit of the Iwi. Adding the wording Tangata Whenua, meaning Iwi or hapu holding Mana Whenua over that area.
Then add Tikanga, meaning Maori Customary values and practices, although this was in the original 1991 RMA Act it is only when the words by the Tangata Whenua were added some time after that, the significance of the word becomes apparent [Tikanga].
Create a illusionary agreement, eg Co-Management, which sits out side of the RMA, LGA and NPS and NES, which is unconstitutional. But allows the Government of the day to ‘Recognize’ Maoridoms Cultural concerns, with regard to the resource, eg Water. Allowing Decision Makers to have “Effect” to those concerns, ie bring about, make happen.
Match the illusionary agreement with a subjective policy statement, consider amendments to sec 80 RMA, must show to have considered adjacent Regional plans.
Use sec 33 & 34 RMA amended in future reviews,transfer of powers and delegation of functions, to include a Public Authority and including decision making powers.
Consider sec 6 RMA, Matters of National Importance, all persons exercising Powers and Functions. [Maori]
Sec 7 RMA, Other Matters, all persons exercising Power and Functions
[a] Kaitiakitanga.
[b] The Ethic of Stewardship.
Sec 8 RMA, The Treaty of Waitangi. All persons exercising Powers and Functions shall take into account the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
Look for future amendments to sec 36[B-E], joint management , and sec 44. Are we to become a republic With no public consultation of the RMA, and Maoridom controls all things Natural and Physical.
This also directly applicable to the Foreshore and Sea Bed Act, as this applies to areas which are bounded by Maori owned land.
My view is that the Local Government Act is gone with scant regard being paid to it now, or at best will under go a major review to bring it into line with the revised Resource Management Act, to accommodate Maoridoms aspirations.
Where are our Law Makers taking us, Why?
End