The Pukaki Canal during a Meridian Energy Waitaki asset tour ahead of its partial asset sale. © APN/R Robinson Zealand Government to take urgent action to safeguard Mäori rights. the central role water plays in Aotearoa New Zealand’s economy including in the generation of renewable energy. After consultation with Mäori, the Government confirmed that the provisions of Section 9 would continue to apply and that the partial sale of assets would not impact on future recognition of Mäori rights and interests in energy resources. In 2012, the Waitangi Tribunal made several recommendations on how a future mechanism for safeguarding Mäori interests in freshwater could be achieved. Some of these recommendations are being acted on by Government, including steps to formalise a role for iwi to provide advice and recommendations on freshwater reforms. A petition, signed by 327,224 people,against the sellingoff of state-owned assets triggered a citizen’s initiated referendum. Forty-five per cent of eligible voters took part in the referendum, with 67.3 per cent voting against the partial asset sales programme and 32.4 per cent in favour. The referendum result, which is not binding on the Government, came just as the programme neared completion with only one remaining energy company, Genesis Energy, waiting to go up for partial sale. Freshwater under discussion at national hui Mäori rights and interests in freshwater were top of the agenda at several national hui as the Government continued to engage with iwi on reforms for the management of freshwater. Aside from the preservation of the human right to clean water and sanitation, iwi expressed their desire for any reforms to recognise that water is a taonga of paramount importance and cultural significance to Mäori. Discussions on the governance of freshwater also acknowledged Tüi Tüi Tuituiä | Race Relations in 2013 More information on human rights and water can be found in the Human Rights Commission report, Human Rights and Water which is available at: www.hrc.co.nz/ wp-content/uploads/2012/02/water. 4G Spectrum sold off Despite a Waitangi Tribunal recommendation that Mäori be allocated a portion of the 4G spectrum, Tangata Whenua missed out when the radio band was sold off to make way for a new generation of mobile phone technology. The radio spectrum is considered to be a taonga by Mäori and in 1999, Mäori successfully secured a block of the 3G spectrum resulting in the creation of the mobile phone provider 2degrees. The Mäori Spectrum Coalition appealed for a similar approach to be taken with the 4G spectrum and for a section of the radio band to be awarded to Mäori. The request was not taken up by the Government, who auctioned off the last of the 700-megahertz band of radio 37