June 24, 2024
Motu protest as Ngāpuhi deal stalls
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Labour MP Peeni Henare says the Government is brushing off the issues raised by an occupation of an island in the far north.
The Department of Conservation has ordered 85-year-old Order of New Zealand recipient Matutaera Clendon to leave Moturua Island north of Matauri Bay, after he returned to his birthplace in early May.
He gave evidence to the Waitangi Tribunal about how central and local government agencies colluded to take the land from his whanau, and says he doesn’t have enough time to wait for the Ngapuhi settlement to be concluded.
Mr Henare says he raised the case last week during scrutiny of Tama Potaka in his roles as minister of both Conservation and Maori Affairs.
“My point to Tama Potaka was, if they crow on and (Treaty Negotiations Minister) Paul Goldsmith is another who crows on about being able to settle Ngapuhi – in order to get a full and final settlement you’ve got to work on some of these smaller issues and what is happening to Uncle Matu is one of those issues. If that isn’t solved, how can we expect the Department of Conservation in a treaty sellement with Ngapuhi is going to be an agency of their word,” he says.
Mr Henare says it’s well known within Ngapuhi that the Clendon whanau was robbed of the island.