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Vol. 79/No. 33 September 21, 2015
Maori defend ancestral land in NZ
BY JANET ROTH
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — “This is our birthright, our whenua [land],”
Waimarie McFarland of the group Save Our Unique Landscape told the
Auckland Council Aug. 27. More than 150 Maori residents of Ihumatao
village and supporters came to the meeting to call for a halt to a
housing development on ancestral land near Auckland Airport.
The disputed land is situated between the Otuataua Stonefields Historic
Reserve and Ihumatao, a Maori village of 80 households gathered around
their meeting place, the Makaurau Marae.
It was confiscated by the government in 1863 and became a privately
owned farm. The whole area, which includes ancestral burial caves, is
significant because Maori have lived there continuously for over 1,000
years.
The government has designated the land as a Special Housing Area, which
allows for fast-track construction. Fletcher Residential purchased the
land in 2014 and plans to build 480 houses.
Save Our Unique Landscape representatives called on the council to
withdraw its support for this designation, presenting a 4,000-signature
petition.
Te Warena Taua, chair of the Maori Trust that oversees Makaurau Marae,
said Maori had long fought to preserve land and water rights at
Ihumatao, but concluded, “We are unable to get the SHA overturned.” He
said Fletcher Residential had agreed to return a portion of the land,
and that Maori would be able to buy some of the new houses.
McFarland responded that most people in this working-class area could
not afford them. “Lots of us in Ihumatao don’t own our homes but rent,”
she said.
Save Our Unique Landscape proposes an alternative block that could be
developed. This would require the agreement of both the municipal
council and the New Zealand government.
The council voted 12-5 against revoking support for the Special Housing
Area. “The fight will continue,” declared Pania Newton of the Unique
Landscape group, as she led supporters out to the waiting buses back to
Ihumatao.
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