Far North District Council has voted to make an offer for land at Ahipara which has been occupied for two years.
A group calling itself Ngā Hapū o Ahipara moved on to the block after owner Cecil Williams damaged the taonga Pohutukawa during development.
Kaikōrero Rueben Taipari says he hopes it means the future of Moringai will be in the hands of all the community.
“Whatever we decide we want to do there, that’s for the whānau, hapū and the community as a collective to decide, but we want to make sure that the history is also recognised.” he says.
Far North mayor Moko Tepania says the council won’t be a default Office of Treaty Settlements, but there were special circumstances behind the decision to negotiate the purchase of the land.
