July 31, 2019
No leeway from National in private land protest
National's Māori development spokesperson says the Government shouldn't concede to the protesters blocking development of land at Ihumātao.
Fletcher Building has stopped work on the site as the Government tries to get the various parties including mana whenua, Pania Newton's Save Our Unique Landscape group and Fletcher round the table.
Jo Hayes says the fact it is privately-owned land means there is little the Government can do.
"For the Government to kowtow to what Pania (Newton) wants them to do will actually cause big issues in the treaty settlement area and we continue to stand firm on the stance there, that treaty settlements do not cover private land ownership," she says.
Jo Hayes says the iwi of Ihumātao need the housing promised in the development, and Fletcher has sectioned off some of its land to protect the stonefields.
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