February 23, 2017
Chester Burrows on Paakiwaha.
Chester Burrows on Paakiwaha.
Proposed legislation which will allow Waitara residents to buy the land they live on is being opposed by submissions which were presented to the Māori Select Committee in Taranaki.
Around 20 submissions were presented for the New Plymouth District Waitara Lands Bill which was introduced to Parliament last year.
If the bill becomes law, it will allow for Waitara lease holders to buy land their houses sit on. This land commonly known as Pekapeka was originally confiscated by the Crown in 1865 from Te Atiawa and Waitara hapū Manukorihi and Otaraua.
The Māori Affairs Select Committee is expected to report back the bill by March, 22.
Chester Borrows who chaired the hearings at Owae Marae in Waitara talks with Willie Jackson about the controversial issue over the return of the Pekapeka Block.
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