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July 07, 2022
Hapū fights for say on Horowhenua golf course plan
Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira
Posted On July 7, 2022
Download AudioMana whenua in Horowhenua are fighting plans for a $50 million golf course on coastal land near Ōhau that includes a significant wāhi tapu.
Both Ngāti Tukorehe and Muaūpoko iwi have opposed a consent application lodged with Horizons Regional Council by Grenadier Ltd, a company owned by accounting software company Xero co-founder Hamish Edwards.
Lindsay Poutama from Te Iwi o Ngāti Tukorehe Trust says Tirotirowhetu was used as star navigation and viewing point.
He says the hapū have struggled to be heard, despite owning much of the surrounding land.
“We have kainga within that area. We have recognition from other hapū and iwi that we are mana whenua and we have written histories that can be verified from primary and secondary sources so these are the connections we have had to re-establish about ourselves just to participate in this process,” he says.
Lindsay Poutama says kaitiakitanga means mana whenua have a responsibility to protect people in physical, cultural and spiritual ways at the site.
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