Listen Now: 
Ngati Whatua Orakei has asked other Auckland iwi to let it take the lead in consultation over the siting of bases for the America's Cup.
The hapu has objected to a resource consent application put up by Auckland Council property arm Panuku which includes a 110 metre concrete extension to Wynyard wharf.
But spokesperson Ngarimu Blair says it is happier with other proposals coming from Viaduct Harbour Holdings and Economic Development Minister David Parker, with some reservations.
He says it's important the process doesn't get muddied by the Panuku consultation process, where 19 iwi are given equal weight.
"We have said to the other iwi we as Ngati Whatua Orakei in our home patch will lead this process to ensure we have good engagement on the resource consent but also to maximise any benefits coming out of hosting the America's Cup. We've got a very good relationship with Team New Zealand and we've opened the door to any iwi who want to work with us on that kind of iwi to iwi basis where iwi are leading it rather than us being led around by career bureaucrats coming out of Wellington or council," he says.
Ngati Whatua wants to ensure the bases for the contest have mimimum impact on the Waitemata Harbour.
!["p_facebook"]("/site/uma/images/story_img/facebook.jpg")
& !["p_twitter"]("/site/uma/images/story_img/twitter.jpg")
Copyright © 2018, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
RELATED NEWS
