Power cut to protesters in bitter fight over land at Auckland's Ihumātao continues
Tuesday, 30 April 2019
A group of protesters illegally occupying land in a row over a housing development say the have been forced to live without electricity after their power was cut two weeks ago.
Fletcher Building plans to build 480 houses near the protected Ōtuataua Stonefields reserve at Ihumātao in Māngere, south Auckland.
But for the past three years, around a dozen people have established a 'kaitiaki village' at Ihumātao Quarry Rd and have been living there full time in protest of a controversial development, claiming it is a sacred Māori site and should be preserved for future generations.
Save Our Unique Landscape (SOUL) leader Pania Newton, said Fletcher Building had cut the power in attempt to get the protesters to leave an old farmhouse ahead of plans to block the road and start construction on May 6.
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'They're trying to force us out,' Newton said. 'Power has been shut off to the whole street at this stage we're just waiting to see what will happen.'
SOUL had been campaigning to stop the development and has so far managed to push it back, Newton said.
'Prior to them [Fletcher Building] purchasing the land I told them there would be a community backlash but they didn't listen to me.
'We want to keep this land as a public space for the people.'
The situation had left Newton, one of the dozen or so people who lives on the land, feeling 'frustrated' but she said the group had no plans to leave the site.
'It's very unjust but we're not going anywhere and our campaign continues to grow.'
SOUL has been using the farmhouse as its main campaign hub as well as storing all its information for the guided tours they take in the area.
Newton said Fletcher had tried to demolish the house in 2017 and the group were evicted that same year. But members have refused to leave.
Fletcher Building spokeswoman Marie Winfield confirmed the power was disconnected to the home which the company owns, on April 13.
'Three people have unlawfully occupied the building for the past three years and have on several occasions been asked to leave the property - Fletcher Building owns the house and the property, and has not authorised anyone to live at the dwelling.
'Trespass notices were issued to the three people occupying the site in 2016,' Winfield said.
Plans were now being made by SOUL members and supporters for power generators and blankets to be sent to Ihumātao to help keep those living there, including children, warm during the winter if power isn't restored.
'The government need to intervene and protect this cultural landscape - put the land into the public's hands,' Newton said.
The sacred Māori site was purchased by Fletcher in 2016 despite months of protest by SOUL and other members of the Māngere community.
They said the land was unjustly confiscated from mana whenua in 1863.
Reportedly, the disputed land was farmed by the Wallace family for 150 years, then in 2011 was zoned for residential development.
In 2007, the then-Manukau City Council intended the land be added to the Ōtuataua Stonefields Historic Reserve.
The case was taken to the Environment Court last year, but the protesters' appeal was rejected, with the court stating it was satisfied with Heritage NZ's decision to grant authority to allow work on the homes development to go ahead.
'The archaeological sites which are known to be affected do not present such historical and cultural heritage value as to prevent or further restrict the reasonable future use of the site,' said the decision from Judge David Kirkpatrick and two commissioners.
The court acknowledged the relationships of Māori with the land but said those relationships had been considered when reaching the decision.
Winfield confirmed Fletcher Building had met with SOUL multiple times over the development but was working in partnership with iwi Te Kawerau a Maki, who represent the mana whenua of Ihumātao.
'As part of a partnership agreement with iwi, Fletcher Building will return over a quarter of the 32-hectare development area to iwi, the area will be planted with native trees, and will create a buffer between the development and the existing Ōtuataua Stonefields Reserve.'