May 09, 2024
Kōhuri set limit for Fast Track push
In a protest against the Fast Track Approvals Bill, mokopuna from Ngāti Toa Rangatira have laid kōhuri or saplings on the steps of Parliament to symbolise an aukati boundary line.
They were among hundreds who marched silently to Parliament yesterday to present the Government with hand drawn petitions from rangatahi and tamariki and to warn private developers to expect more protests if whānau, whenua and moana are harmed by the legislation.
Pou tikanga Taku Parai says the aukati warns government not to cross into the Ngāti Toa rohe without consent.
“I think it’s plain what our desire is for the future and it certainly ain’t within the Fast Track Bill. It’s about communication, respect, and we want to hand down to our mokopuna a taiao deserved for them and I think our tūpuna would expect that,” he says.
The petitions were received by Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka and RMA Reform Minister for RMA Chris Bishop.
Te Pāti Māori, Greens and Labour were also on hand to meet the ope.
The bill has been widely criticised for giving the ministers of regional development, infrastructure and transport the power to decide which projects were fast-tracked.