July 25, 2019
Ihumātao challenge to private property rule
A Māori filmmaker who has observed the situation at Ihumātao for many years says the current flare up goes to the heart of the treaty settlement process.
Pita Turei says everyone with connections to Ihumātao wanted to protect the land adjoining the Ōtuataua stonefields.
Some like Te Kawerau a Maki leader Te Warena Taua went through the legal process, while the Save Our Unique Landscape group chose occupation.
He says the effective social media campaign run by SOUL leader Pania Newton has won her national support and overwhelmed the kaumātua who have been making decisions in the village for 30 years under traditional structures.
"It's created a point of conflict between the young and old and that point of conflict is not just about youth and age, it's about whether or not we accept the treaty settlement process where we have accepted we are not going to take private land. this impacts on every New Zealander. if you get the maps and look at what was stolen, that's not the only bit that was stolen out there," Mr Turei says.
He says the wāhi tapu and archaeological structures on the land have been left out of the development under the agreement between the Makaurau Marae Māori trust and Fletcher Building, but there are other parts of the special housing area the protesters should look at if they are serious about protecting significant archaeological and geological formations.
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