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The group blocking contractor access to remove trees from Ōwairaka maunga says it won’t meet the Tūpuna Maunga Authority when it holds a hui on the maunga on Thursday.

The authority says it is holding a whakawātea and hui because the group has rejected three attempts to set up a meeting.

Honour the Maunga accuses the authority of acting in a cynical and highly manipulative way, and says it has mad it clear that negotiation is not an option.

It says it will maintain its blockade of contractors until it receives a binding agreement that the trees are safe.

Meanwhile, an opinion from former Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson released by the group says the Act setting up the Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Mākaurau Authority spelt out that the maunga are held “for the common benefit of Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Mākaurau and the other people of Auckland”.

He says success will only be achieved if the Authority works with the local community, but consultation does not always mean both sides end up agreeing.

Mr Finlayson says change is coming for the maunga, and generosity of spirit is required on all sides.
 

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