Submission proposes 70% of natural resource revenue for landowners

Landowners should receive 70 per cent of revenue generated from natural resources found on or beneath their land and waters, while the State retains the remaining 30 per cent, a constitutional review submission has proposed.

Making his oral submission to the Constitution Review Commission on Friday, 77-year-old John Fatiaki argued that the current constitutional framework should be amended to provide indigenous landowners with a significantly larger share of wealth generated from minerals and other natural resources.

Referring to Section 13 of the 2013 Constitution, Mr Fatiaki proposed that while ownership of natural resources could remain with the State, the Constitution should require that 70 per cent of any proceeds from resources such as minerals, oil or other discoveries be returned to customary landowners.

“Seventy per cent should go directly to the landowners and 30 per cent to the State,” Mr Fatiaki said.

“The government changes after every election, but the landowners remain.”

Mr Fatiaki said such a constitutional provision would ensure communities receive lasting economic benefits from resources extracted from their traditional lands and waters.

He also supported the constitutional amendment process currently underway, saying changes should focus on improving the existing Constitution rather than replacing it entirely.

Mr Fatiaki told commissioners he welcomed the opportunity to make the submission despite the poor weather, saying the review was a chance to address concerns that had remained unresolved for many years.