June 08, 2018
Media Statement of Kāpehu marae
Media Statement of Kāpehu marae
https://www.waateanews.com/play_podcast?podlink=NjUzOTU= 06 June 2018 Dale Husband
https://www.waateanews.com/play_podcast?podlink=NjUzOTQ= 07 June 2018 Eru Morgan
https://www.waateanews.com/play_podcast?podlink=NjUzMTU= 07 June 2018 Rangi Mclean
https://www.waateanews.com/play_podcast?podlink=NjUzNzY= 07 June 2018 – Dale Husband
https://www.waateanews.com/play_podcast?podlink=NjUzNzQ= 06 June 2018 – Titewhai Harawira
06 June 2018 – Dale Husband
Media Statement of Kāpehu marae
In respect of the proposal by Tegel Foods Ltd for a Free Range Broiler Poultry Farm to house 1.32 million chickens at any one time at Arapohue outside Dargaville
Kāpehu marae has notified both the Northland Regional Council and the Kaipara District Council and the applicant, Tegel Foods Ltd, through its agent, Tonkin and Taylor Ltd, that having considered the Assessment of Effects on the Environment provided to the councils, it opposes the development. As an immediate neighbor Kāpehu marae has declined permission for the proposal to proceed. Tegel has responded by calling hui of Kāpehu marae in Auckland without the knowledge or the permission of the marae.
Both our marae and urupā (cemetery) are on the boundary of the property Tegel intends to purchase for this development. The closest of the 32 sheds, each housing more than 40,000 broiler chickens, is less than 350 metres from the urupā. The proposal requires extensive quarrying which will take place in the paddock next to the wharenui (meeting house) on the marae. Once the development is completed, 40 tonnes a day of litter, excrement and dead birds will be burnt on site and will discharge a constant stream of toxic contaminants through two 16 metre high chimneys towards Kāpehu urupā and marae and the surrounding environment. The application shows that the toxins and the odour will be a major problem for the development especially when sheds are being cleaned at the end of each six week cycle. Dust, which will also contain toxins, will also be problematic and pollute the marae’s water supply.
Tegel asked Kāpehu marae to provide a cultural impact assessment but then withdrew the request after the marae set out the requirements for the assessment. This included detailed analyses of the impact the development as proposed will have on the the urupā and the marae and full consultation with all hapū and marae in the Northern Wairoa.
Instead Tegel placed an advertisement in the New Zealand Herald
on Saturday 2 June 2018 (see attached) purporting to call a hui of Kāpehu marae at the office of Tonkin and Taylor in Auckland to seek the support of Kāpehu marae for their development. Kāpehu marae was not informed about the hui.
Whānau of Kāpehu marae saw the advert and alerted Kāpehu marae who then notified the rest of their whanaunga. They will attend the hui to inform Tegel that the proposed development will not go ahead because the whānau of Kāpehu marae refuse to be driven off their land and out of their marae and urupā.
Northland Regional Council and Kaipara District Council must ensure that both the marae and the urupā can continue to operate undisturbed and not be negatively impacted by any proposed development. The councils have already received more than 5,000 submissions about Tegel’s proposal and almost all of them oppose the development. Kāpehu marae has been grateful for the support of their neighbours from throughout the Northern Wairoa against Tegel and has invited them to attend the hui with Tegel in Auckland on Wednesday 6 June at 6pm, level 2, 105 Carlton Gore Rd, Newmarket.
ENDS
Statement authorized by:
Professor Margaret Mutu
Chairperson, Kāpehu marae
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