February 09, 2021
Ngati Whatua lights ahi kaa in courtroom
The chair of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust Board says hapū members will be present for the whole 11 weeks of its case for exclusive rights in Tāmaki Makaurau.
The judicial review of the crown’s overlapping claims policy started yesterday morning after a hikoi from Ōrākei Marae to the Auckland High Court.
Marama Royal says it passed two land parcels which have been offered to the Marutuahu Collective against the wishes of Ōrākei.
There is only room in the court for about 20 spectators, but they have more than enough people to fill them.
"We have given our commitment to be there every day from the start of a court to the finish of court, whether it is sitting outside or inside, to show we are the ahi kaa of central Tāmaki and we will sit to keep those home fires burning, to tautoko the kaupapa that is happening inside," Ms Royal says.
She says the easiest solution would be for the crown to change its policy and stop offering other iwi land in Ngāti Whātua’s heartland.
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