September 21, 2015
New phase on Horowhenua struggle
The kaitiaki of Lake Horowhenua says it’s time to bring the struggle over the lake’s ownership to a head.
A group from Mua-Upoko has occupied former sailing club premises on the lake shore, and yesterday hosted an open day for a new waka ama club that attracted more than 50 youngsters, as well as crews from Otaki and Porirua.
Spokesperson Philip Taueki says the biggest threat to users comes from the local council dumping Levin’s stormwater into the shallow lake.
He says the courts have confirmed Mua-Upoko owns the lake and surrounding land, including the sailing and rowing club buildings, but that’s being ignored.
"The police, the local police anyway, a bunch of rednecks, have been basically siding with the rowers who are their mates, and the mayor, who relies on the rowers and the sailing clubs for his votes, has been guaranteeing them their right to stay there despite us telling the mayor and anyone else who will listen that the buildings and land belong to us. We know what our rights are. We're bringing it to a head. We have taken our building back. We're going to clean up this lake," Mr Taueki says.
He says the crown is selective about who in Mua-Upoko it recognises, which has created division in the iwi.
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