David Williams is leading a Spirited Conversation on a significant court case, happening in the Christchurch High Court just a few blocks from Aldersgate, but which most of us know so little about. Ngāi Tahu say it is meant to provoke a needed discussion between the Crown and Ngāi Tahu on better managing wai māori (freshwater) in its takiwā (territory).

David Williams is the Environment & Climate Editor at Newsroom NZ, and was previously with National Business Review. As one of the country’s few specialist senior environment reporters, he has closely followed and has become one of the nation’s experts on the multi-million dollar, but under-reported, court case brought by Ngāi Tahu against the Crown on freshwater management. What is it all about? What are both sides arguing? Why is the Crown fighting it with a multi-million dollar legal war chest? And what are some potential implications of this ground-breaking case? This seminar is part of a series of monthly Spirited Conversation hosted by Durham Street Methodists, as part of our commitment to bringing critical thinking, and ethical & spiritual insights to important issues of the day for our city and its diverse people.