John Banks, the leader of the ACT has said that the claim for wind rights in New Zealand by Maori could damage relations between the Maori and other ethnical residents of the country.

The leaders of the Northland iwi are planning to file a claim for the commercial use of wind through Waitangi Tribunal. The plans for filing a wind claim comes after similar claims were filed by the Maori Council for water rights.

Mr. Banks pointed out that the claim for natural resources will result in diminished goodwill of New Zealanders towards the ethnic group. The people planning to file a claim have said that it is only a preemptive move before corporations set up wind-farms in the Northland region.

“It is disappointing that Northland iwi have lodged such an opportunistic claim which will only increase the feeling of separatism between Maori and non-Maori alike,” said Banks.

Ngapuhi claimants' spokesman, David Rankin of Te Matarahurahi hapu responded by saying that they believe that the wind can be classed as a treasured possession and thus any commercial gain should have a share for the Maori people.

Prime Minister John Key has not agreed to the earlier claim by stating that no one owns the wind.