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The Māori Land Court has ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear a challenge to the sale of Shelly Bay to developer Ian Cassells’ The Wellington Company.
The developer had tried to strike out the claim by members of the Mau Whenua group that the sale of land by the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust was a breach of trust because Taranaki Whānui members had voted against it.
They say true ownership remains with the members of Taranaki Whānui and the developer holds the titles in trust for the iwi members.
Mau Whanau spokesperson Catherine Love there’s still a long way to go to get back the land at Marukaikuru/Shelly Bay, but it’s a crucial step.
The settlement trust bought the former defence base on the Miramar Peninsula while Dr Love was on its board, but it was unable to develop the property, which was tying up the bulk of its capital and incurring huge ongoing costs.
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