Ihumātao eviction protest: An occupation 150 years in the making
Tuesday, 30 July 2019
Ihumātao is being referred to as a modern-day Bastion Point – with peaceful protesters being met in equal numbers by Police.
At the start of last week, the number of people occupying the site in south Auckland was barely in double digits. Now hundreds are passing through every day, many staying overnight next to the line of Police which intersects the whenua.
Fletcher Building wants to develop the land for 480 houses, but has been met by opposition from Māori who point to the sacred nature of the site.
When Fletcher descended on the land with equipment last Tuesday, peaceful protesters began arriving from all over the country in solidarity against the development.
**READ MORE:
* Ihumātao eviction live: latest updates
* Planned Auckland development reignites anger of the land wars
* South Auckland land protester Pania Newton in the fight of her life**
Why were so many people willing to put their lives on hold for Ihumātao?
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LAND
For 800 years, Māori were the inhabitants of Ihumātao, a 1000 acre area located just a few kilometres from where Auckland Airport now sits.
The area is home to burial caves and the foundations of whare. The country's first vegetable patches were constructed there.
On July 9, 1863, armed British and New Zealand troops entered the small, unsuspecting village and forced the inhabitants off the land they'd held for 800 years.
Those who failed to comply would be 'ejected', an eviction notice read. Even the aged and sick were compelled to pick up their possessions and leave.
The land was then cleared and for the next 150 years was farmed by the Wallace family.
In 2007, the then-Manukau City Council intended to add Ihumātao to the Ōtuataua Stonefields Historic Reserve, but failed.
Then in 2011, the land was reportedly zoned for residential development.
In 2016, it was purchased by Fletcher Building which plans to build 480 houses on the site, saying it hopes to help Auckland's housing crisis.
HOW LONG HAS THE CONTESTED LAND BEEN OCCUPIED?
Although numbers ballooned last week, the peaceful occupation has been happening for four years. When Fletcher purchased the land in 2016, a group called Save Our Unique Landscape (SOUL) moved onto the whenua.
The campaign was led by mana whenua members whose whānau had lived at Ihumātao for generations.
At the head of the campaign was Pania Newton, who has been a constant in news stories over the past week.
WHO IS PANIA NEWTON?
Newton is one of about 15 people who have occupied Ihumātao since Fletcher's 2016 purchase. In many ways, she is the face of SOUL – fronting media, giving talks and mobilising support.
As someone who grew up on the land, she knows it well.
With the help of her campaigners, she's created a 'kaitiaki village' at the end of Ihumātao Quarry Rd, installing vegetable gardens, converting several buildings into liveable spaces, and keeping chickens for eggs and meat.
Newton has put her legal career on hold for Ihumātao and says she's here to stay.
'We will remain here until the bulldozers come. I've already planned to sacrifice my life for this campaign.
'I'm willing to die for it. It's so important to my identity and to the history of our nation and my nieces and nephews.'
WHAT DOES SOUL WANT?
SOUL is asking Fletcher and Police to leave the land with all their equipment.
As a start, it is seeking written confirmation from the Government and Fletcher that no construction will begin until all parties have met 'at the table in good faith'.
In short, it wants the land returned so it can be accessible to all of New Zealand, not just a select group of home owners.
WHAT DOES FLETCHER WANT?
Fletcher purchased the land in 2016 and wants to build 480 houses there.
'Clearly, there is a big shortage of housing in Auckland,' Steve Evans, chief executive of Fletcher Building's Residential & Land Development, says.
'We are respectful of the site's cultural history.'
DIDN'T IWI AGREE TO THE DEVELOPMENT?
Yes. Te Warena Taua, the chairman of the Makaurau Marae Trust and executive chairman of Te Kawerau Iwi Tribal Authority, has said it will provide much-needed housing for iwi.
The protesters should 'go back to their own tribes', he said.
Taua's iwi members had issued the eviction notice in conjunction with Fletcher.
However, Newton responded on Thursday saying the members do not speak for mana whenua or the marae.
'Our marae nominated our spokespersons for our kaupapa here and nominated their stance and opposition to Fletcher.'
Newton has spoken several times to media about the eviction, saying the emphasis on the difference of opinion amongst Māori is disrespectful to the work that is currently being done to protect the whenua.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?
On Friday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it had become clear to the Government that things had escalated at Ihumātao and pushed pause on any developments.
Ardern said no building action would take place on the land until a solution could be reached.
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson hit out, saying she was disappointed with the Government's lack of consultation with protesters.
Newton was pleased with the news, but said there was a long way to go and was frustrated the Prime Minister had not visited the land in person.
Newton didn't have any plans to leave, and neither did the growing number of occupiers.
'We've been in this kaupapa for five years. Our responsibility is to the whenua at whatever cost.'
TIMELINE
1863 - Armed British and New Zealand troops force Māori off Ihumātao, land they've held for 800 years. The land is farmed for 150 years by the Wallace family.
2007 - Manukau City Council intends to add the land to the Otuataua Stonefields Historic Reserve.
2011 - The land is zoned for residential development.
2016 - Ihumātao is purchased by Fletcher Building which plans to build 480 houses. Pania Newton and other members from SOUL move onto the whenua.
2017 - SOUL travels to United Nations to contest the alleged breaches under the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
2018 - Thirty protesters attend Fletcher Building's annual meeting at Eden Park. Five directors respond to questions saying they support Fletcher Building's decision to proceed with the development.
April 30 - SOUL says its power has been cut at Ihumātao for two weeks. 'They're trying to force us out,' Newton says.
July 23 - Fletcher arrives at Ihumātao, with Newton saying it gave zero warning.
July 24 - Occupiers begin arriving in numbers. Two dogs are pepper sprayed and three people are arrested. Numbers reach about 300 people at the peak of the protest. Lambton Quay in central Wellington is blocked as activists march in solidarity.
July 25 - About 150 people stayed the night at Ihumātao with 80 taking turns to maintain a line against Police. Seven people are arrested for trying to block highway near Auckland Airport. Stan Walker performs an impromptu show at the site saying 'if my people ain't winning, I ain't winning.'
July 26 - Occupation continues with people travelling from as far as Wellington to attend. Green MPs Marama Davidson, Chlöe Swarbrick, Golriz Ghahraman and Jan Logie arrive carrying the Māori flag. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces hold on development.
July 27- 28 - The occupation continues. A number of artists perform.