May 10, 2021
Whakatohea celebrates marine title win
Whakatōhea negotiator Maui Hudson says a High Court judgment that iwi and hapū should be granted customary marine title from the Ōhiwa Harbour through to Ōpōtiki and beyond is testament to the foresight of its rangatira and the commitment of claimants.
In the first judgment under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act, Justice Peter Churchman found a continuous connection with the coastal space, despite interruption like land confiscations and the activities of territorial authorities in issuing resource consents.
Mr Hudson says the Eastern Bay of Plenty was the first area to be considered for customary title because of the groundwork laid by the Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board led by the late Claude Edwards, who laid a claim to the takutai moana more than 20 years ago.
He says with so many other claims and development projects going on in the rohe, the heavy lifting for the case was done at hapū and whānau level.
"It was a huge amount of work they did, speaking with kaumātua and kuia, doing the research, demonstrating we had, despite the raupatu and most of our whenua being taken away, that we still had this relationship and ongoing connection with our entire coastline," Mr Hudson says.
He says customary title means if anyone want a say in either conservation or commercial use of the space, they will need to do so in partnership with iwi and hapū.
Copyright © 2021, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com