August 23, 2019
Ihumātao petition delivered to PM’s office
Twenty six thousand six hundred and 63.
That's the number of online signatures collected for a petition delivered to the Prime Minister's Mount Albert electorate office yesterday calling for her to visit Ihumātao so she could understand the reasons for the protest that is stopping development.
Members of Save Our Unique Landscape and supporters marched 18 kilometres through rain and high wind from Māngere to Morningside to deliver a giant sized letter announcing the result of the week-long petition.
Jacinda Ardern was not in the office to meet the 300-strong hīkoi, but two staff members came out to receive it.
SOUL leader Pania Newton says she does not accept Ms Ardern's reasons for not visiting, and eventually the Crown has to take responsibility for the land confiscation in 1863 and again, in 2016.
She says it also fits with her responsibilities as the Minister for Culture and Heritage as the crown is robbing the public of a special cultural heritage site.
Copyright © 2019, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com