Government taking lead from mana whenua over Ihumaatao

Taamaki Makaurau MP Peeni Henare says he's concerned at they way the situation at Ihumatao is escalating and the way people on both sides of the debate are being treated.

Protest numbers at the site near the airport are growing, with about 100 police trying to keep them off the former wheatfields where Fletcher Building wants to develop a 480 home special housing area.

While Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the Government would not intervene because it was on the side of local iwi and their position, Mr Henare says as the local MP he's keen to go there today to hear people's views.

He says it's a sticky situation.

"And the fact that it's been through the courts, the Environment Court being one of those courts, makes it even stickier. From the Government's heand this isn't a new position. We have always stated the rights of mana whenua are important and must be upheld," Mr Henare says.

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