June 15, 2020
Wakatu continues land fight
Wakatū Incorporation is seeking a judicial review of the Attorney-General’s failure to take steps to prevent the loss of any more land in Nelson held by the Crown.
The incorporation, which represents the Māori land owners of the Nelson Tenths’ Estate, is trying to enforce a 2017 Supreme Court decision that the crown must honour its legal duties to the owners.
Those included its duties to reserve a full 10 percent of the land in Nelson and Tasman for the owners, and to sell off much of what was reserved.
Last month the owners led by kaumatua Rore Pat Stafford lost a case the Court of Appeal against the sale of land by the Accident Compensation Commission, with two of the three judges saying the commission is not part of the crown when it is holding land for investment.
Wakatū chief executive Kerensa Johnston says the fight will continue because restoring the Nelson Tenths’ Trust is critical to the development and well-being of the families.
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