January 12, 2014
Ngati Hei eyes beachfront reserve
Thames Coromandel District Council is assuring the public that there will continue to be public access to the beach through a Pauanui reserve, whatever the outcome of treaty settlement talks.
Mayor Glenn Leach says the Hauraki Collective is negotiating with the Office of Treaty Settlements to return Tangitarori Reserve to Ngati Hei as cultural redress.
The land is currently owned by the Crown but managed by the council.
Mr Leach says while there is a long way to go before anything is finalised, "one thing we are certain of is that reserves will stay reserves and continued public access will remain as it's always been.
"There will also be no impact on people's private property rights and we are keen to make sure third-party interests are also protected, especially with any public land between the beach and private homes".
Tangitarori is of particular cultural significance to Ngati Hei iwi as a waka landing site, fishing area and former papakainga.
The mayor says the council is not involved in direct negotiations, but it looks forward to working with the Ngati Hei and the other iwi in the Hauraki Collective to co-manage certain areas of interest, once negotiations are finalised with the Crown.
Copyright © 2014, UMA Broadcasting Ltd