TONGARIRO SCHEME

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30534, 1 September 1964, Page 14

TONGARIRO SCHEME

Maori View Given

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Aug. 31. The attitude of the Maori people directly concerned to the £7O million Tongarirb power scheme was stated last evening. The boards representing them are content to rely on assurances of full and adequate compensation for any damage that may be done. Mr E. R. Tripe, of Wellington, counsel for the Tuwharetoa Trust Board and the Roto Aira Trust Board, said the Tuwharetoa people had always regarded Lake Taupo and the national park as of great importance to them. They previously agreed to the raising of the level of Lake Taupo for hydro-electric power purposes because they recognised this was a matter of national importance. The boards’ attitude to the present proposals was that “it is no part of their function to be obstructive to Government in its plans for national development.”

The Roto Aira board possessed valuable assets as trustee for the Maori owners and the Tuwharetoa board was trustee for Maori beneficiaries in respect of substantial revenues. The resources of both boards could, in certain circumstances, be affected by the proposals and they realised that it was too early at this stage to assess the extent.