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Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei is reiterating its support for a memorial to the Erebus air disaster in Parnell’s Dove Meyer Robinson Park.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua chair Dame Naida Glavish is leading a protest against the memorial because she says there is no connection between the crash of an Air New Zealand flight in Antarctica 42 years ago and what was the site of Mataharehare Pā.
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Deputy Chair Ngarimu Blair says the hapū first wrote to the Ministry for Culture and Heritage in November 2018 expressing support for the project and the use of Taurarua, which is in the heart of its rohe.
Ōrākei is currently in the High Court arguing it has exclusive mana whenua in central Auckland.
Mr Blair says it has reviewed the archaeological assessments and expert arboriculture reports, and it is assuring the existing pohutukawa will not be affected.
As mana whenua, it will ensure the works are completed sensitively and are culturally sound.
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