Māori who work to protect freshwater are hoping the government's new policy statement on freshwater - due out today - will endorse Māori having authority as kaitiaki.
They've been meeting in Whangarei this week for the annual conference of Te Wai Māori, a statutory body set up to advance Māori interests in freshwater and the traditional eel - or tuna - fishery.
Chairman Ken Mair says Māori are typically powerless in debates on climate change and freshwater - and that has to change.
