The "Principles of the Treaty" are often mentioned in contemporary New Zealand politics. They originate from the famous case brought in the High Court by the New Zealand Maori Council in 1987 (New Zealand Maori Council v. Attorney-General). Because the state-owned enterprises were essentially private firms owned by the government, there was an argument that they would prevent assets which had been given by Maori for use by the state from being returned to Maori by the Waitangi Tribunal and through Treaty settlements