March 03, 2020
Housing likely element in Ihumatao fix
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Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says housing could still be in the mix in a solution to the stand-off at Ihumātao.
Save Our Unique Landscape, which occupied the land near Auckland Airport to stop the development of a special housing area, has insisted the land should be preserved as it is because of its high heritage values.
Mr Goff says Auckland Council has been involved in conversations with central government, the Kīngitanga and mana whenua, and options have now gone to cabinet.
"Government is getting close to having an agreement that will take us forward and I think all of us want to see a solution found that takes us beyond confrontation and into saying what's the best future outcome for this area in terms of respect for the land, which is one of the longest-settled areas in Tāmaki Makaurau, in respect to need for Māori housing which is pressing, to maintain the identity of Ihumātao as a special place rather than being swallowed up in a larger development, and the historic values particularly round Ōtuataua, the stonefields area, so all those things are in the mix," Mr Goff says.
He hopes a three-part documentary being made for Māori Television covers all sides in the dispute.
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