Genesis Energy comments disappoint Waikato-Tainui

Genesis Energy comments disappoint Waikato-Tainui

The CEO of the Waikato-Tainui tribal executive is disappointed at comments made by Genesis Energy about a dispute over issues surrounding its Huntly power station, the so-called E3P project and local marae.

Hemi Rau said the onus should be on Genesis Energy to ensure it has a robust relationship with the local marae in Huntly so that it can deal with issues that arise.

“I was very disappointed to hear that Genesis had in the Waikato Times today tried to deflect concerns raised by our Huntly relations on to the wider tribal body,” Mr Rau said.

“For the record Te Arataura, the executive of the Waikato-Tainui tribal parliament, has distributed well over $2-million in grants to Tainui marae over the last three-years, and at least that much again in the years before that.

“This is much more than the tribe has received from Genesis Energy in lease payments for the use of tribal land that its Huntly operations sit on,” he said.

Mr Rau said the executive of Waikato-Tainui keeps a watching brief on any issues that might affect the Waikato River, while it the tribe’s outstanding claim to the river is worked through with the Crown.

“We have a mandate from the tribe to deal with issues relating to the river. However, any other local issues that arise in Huntly Genesis Energy needs to resolve with the local marae and its representatives,” Mr Rau said.

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