June 07, 2022
Mana whenua warn over island access
Former Māori affairs minister and Matauri Bay resident Dover Samuels says the new owner of Motukawaiti better get in touch with local hapū if they want access.
The island, which is part of the Cavelli Group, slipped out of Ngāti Kura ownership many decades ago, and the hapū has been trying to buy it back.
The island was acquired in 2013 by Hong Kong investor Jun Zhang after a complicated transaction which the Overseas Investment Office looked at but decided against taking action.
Mr Samuels says despite spending millions building a luxury lodge, Mr Zang and his agents failed to secure the support of customary owners.
“They knew nothing about the sea. They knew nothing about the islands and they thought they could just come across our whenua, get on their big waka and go over to the island. Well, they were in for a big shock, weren’t they,” he says.
Mr Samuels says he’s been told the island has been acquired by a Christchurch family.