Construction has halted at Ihumātao, but the protesters won't be stopping anytime soon
Saturday, 27 July 2019
In just a few days, the protest at Ihumātao has gone from a confrontation with police to a festival in the outskirts of Māngere.
Thousands of protesters visited the site on Saturday, five days after the group Save Our Unique Landscape was given its eviction order. In that time, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has pushed pause on the contentious development plan which ignited the protest years ago.
But protest leader Pania Newton did not welcome the announcement from Ardern. The Government was heavily criticised for refusing to cooperate with the protest organisers and mana whenua who didn't support Fletcher Building's housing development at Ihumātao.
Tāmaki Makaurau MP Peeni Henare arrived on Saturday with Employment Minister Willie Jackson to try and win the protesters' faith, but major questions remained unanswered about what would happen next at Ihumātao.
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Newton said it was disappointing to hear Ardern had organised a hui without the Soul activists.
And despite the apparent progress on Friday, there was no end in sight for the hundreds of people who set up camp in protest. Although Newton said it was 'heartening' to hear Ardern's concern about Ihumātao, she also warned there would be no de-escalation anytime soon.
'People have been describing this as the revolution of our generation, and as the biggest Māori movement of this time. It is very disappointing [Ardern] is not here,' she said.
The movement has garnered followers from around New Zealand. Well known musicians such as Stan Walker, Ladi6 and Teeks have helped bring attention to the cause - and entertain the crowds. As more people arrived at Ihumātao, the facilities have grown. By Saturday, a daycare centre, acupuncture tent, kitchen and stage had been set up just outside of the police cordon.
On the stage, musicians threw their support behind the protest thanks to a last-minute call out from Walker.
While many assumed the protest might die down following Ardern's announcement, the people of Ihumātao don't appear to be going anywhere.
A paddock, which on Wednesday was blocked off by police, was turned into a tent village to house supporters from around the country. Among them, many families with young children kept the fires burning.
Anahera Rapira-Kiel travelled to Ihumātao from Hamilton on Thursday with her partner and children. For her, the battle at Ihumātao was about more than this section of land. She said it was about making a stand for Māori rights and heritage, to help all Māori.
'For some, it is too late. There have been situations like this in the past,' she said.
The precedent a return of the land could set worried Willie Jackson.
He and Peeni Henare spoke in support of the protest, but they asked for time to sort out the situation.
'We can't have a developer dictate what's happening in terms of tikanga Māori,' Jackson said. But asked if the Crown would buy back the land, he said they had to 'be careful of precedent'.
The fact that the protesting group are mana whenua, but weren't registered as the official Te Kawerau a Maki iwi representatives complicated the issue. The land was also privately owned, and had been since the Crown stole it in 1860.
While Jackson thanked the protesters for challenging the Government, and said he supported their cause, he stopped short of making any promises.
'We heard the wero, we hear you challenging us and we came. It's incumbent on us to find a way forward,' he said.
But what that way forward would be remained unclear.
The only thing that was clear on Saturday night was the message from the protesters: Until they have a solid agreement to ensure the land is saved, they say they will not move.
With gardens, buses, kitchens and even a barista now lined up along Ihumātao Quarry Rd, they don't appear to be going anywhere.