August 01, 2013
Cycleway upsets rail land claimants
Māori landowners have moved to stop construction of a coast to coast cycle way in Northland.
Kaumatua Ron Wihongi says owners at Jacob's Ladder, south of Kaikohe, are concerned the trail will give cyclists and walkers easy access to privately owned farmland and bush, including areas where there are wāhi tapū.
He says some of the land used for the Pou Herenga Tai – Twin Coast Cycle Trail was taken under the Public Works Act for a railway, and iwi hope to get it back through the current Waitangi Tribunal process.
The Far North District Council has discussed issuing a trespass notice against protesters who set up road blocks to block access to the rail corridor.
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