Stan Walker urges crowds to 'dream bigger' at Ihumātao
Saturday, 27 July 2019
Musician Stan Walker called for fans to 'dream bigger' on Saturday night, inspired by the movement at Ihumātao.
Walker was performing on a makeshift stage, in gumboots, in front of hundreds of people at the disputed land near Auckland's airport.
He said it was a privilege to support the Save Our Unique Landscape group, known as SOUL, who have illegally occupied Ihumātao since it was sold to Fletcher Building in 2016. The group object to it being developed into housing.
'I think Ihumātao is a revolution of our generation; it's about Māori and Polynesians asserting their rights, more than just over this piece of land,' said Walker.
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'We're breaking ground here and I want to thank the mana whenua. If you have a dream today, dream bigger!'
Ihumātao has cultural significance for Māori. The area, bordering the Otuataua Stonefields Historic Reserve, contains some of New Zealand's oldest stone-walled field systems, windbreaks, heat-conservation areas for tropical crops, burial caves, and the foundations of whare.
The land was confiscated from Māori and given by the Crown to Gavin Wallace in 1867. It was been passed by inheritance to his descendants, who sold it to Fletcher Building – which plans to build 480 houses on it.
SOUL was given an eviction notice by police on Tuesday, sparking the current protests at Ihumātao. Thousands of people were turning up each day and there was a festival vibe at the site, with face painting, free kai, and a paddock full of tents.
Thirteen protesters have been arrested since Tuesday.
On Friday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said no construction will take place at Ihumātao until a solution is reached by all parties.