September 09, 2015
Airport battle ground for sovereignty
Ngati Kahu negotiator Margaret Mutu says her iwi is being punished for refusing to kowtow to Treaty Negotiations Minister Christopher Finlayson.
A group from the iwi have occupied and closed Kaitaia Airport, overshadowing today’s passing of a bill settling the claims of the other four iwi in Te Hiku o Te Ika.
Dr Mutu says the Maori Affairs select committee sitting in Kaitaia in March was warned that would happen if Ngati Kahu land was given to other iwi.
She told Radio Waatea host Dale Husband that Ngati Kahu has a problem with government, not with other far north iwi.
"We never ceded our sovereignty, and Chris Finlayson has a real problem with that and keeps trying to exert authority that he doesn't actually possess but if he can get away with it and have people think that he does have the authority, he can get away with it. Well Ngati Kahu just does not see Chris Finlayson as holding that sort of authority," Dr Mutu says.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH DR MARGARET MUTU CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MzIyNTI=
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