April 14, 2022
Greens want whenua fight fund
The Green Party wants the Government to fund legal action to return crown land to iwi and hapū.
MP Elizabeth Kerekere says it’s been consulting on its Hoki Whenua Mai policy to create a fund so Māori can buy back significant blocks from private landowners when it becomes available.
She says there is also a desire by many to get land back from the Department of Conservation.
“After having our first webinar with protectors and guardians, we realised we actually need a fund to help people take the case because people are doing Givealittles and fundraising to take court cases, but they are massively expensive,” Dr Kerekere says.
She sees no reason why ownership of conservation land could not be returned to Māori while the department continues to look after public access, weed and pest control and other functions.