Ihumātao: Māori King confident of a positive resolution before Waitangi
Wednesday, 22 January 2020
The Māori King has arrived at Ihumātao to collect his flag, which he delivered to the site in August as a symbol of protection over the whenua.
The act showed his confidence a 'positive resolution' to the fracas over the rural south Auckland land's ownership would be announced before Waitangi Day, said Waikato-Tainui's executive chairwoman Rukumoana Schaafhausen – one of the King's entourage of several dozen.
She said the King had been working closely with manawhenua over the past six months to reach a resolution that would not involve funding from Waikato-Tainui.
Protesters have been occupying the site for the past three years. Fletcher Building bought the land in 2016 for a housing development, but critics say it should be returned to Māori.
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After a formal pōwhiri, the flag was lowered and then handed to Kiingi Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII by Ihumātao's occupiers on Wednesday.
After a celebratory lunch with the king, occupiers Pania Newton and Qiane Matata-Sipu spoke with media.
They maintained they could not reveal any specifics about the pending deal, though Newton described it as a 'success for the nation'.
'We hope it encourages others to stand up against injustice … and to heal the heartache that lies across this whenua.'
Matata-Sipu said all she could say was that, 'if the King is happy, by all means we're happy'.
The women confirmed the Kiingitanga had not bought the land.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said discussions with the Crown and Kiingitanga, on behalf of mana whenua, had been positive and an agreement could be reached soon.
'Once a draft agreement is reached by all parties, this will then be subject to final approval by all councillors at the Governing Body next month.'
Finance Minister Grant Robertson said the Government acknowledged the significance of the king's decision to lower his flag.
'At the request of mana whenua we asked the King to lead the process, and I want to recognise his expert leadership in a complex situation and commitment to finding a way through that all parties can be happy with,' he said.
'We will continue work with all parties to reach a resolution. We are mindful of Fletcher's position as the legal owner of the land, and a satisfactory settlement with them is an important part of a resolution.'
In September last year, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced no development would take place at Ihumātao until a solution over the long dispute was reached.
Also in September, mana whenua reached a unified position on the future of Ihumātao and wanted the land back, according to the Māori King.
Colonial troops forced Māori from the land during the 19th century Waikato Invasion: a campaign to stamp out the Māori King movement and clear lands for European settlement.
Ihumātao has long been occupied by protesters, fighting a housing development by Fletcher Building.
Fletcher Building had planned to build 480 houses near the protected Ōtuataua Stonefields reserve at Ihumātao.
But locals, who are against it, established a 'kaitiaki village' on Ihumātao Quarry Rd, in protest, claiming the land is a sacred Māori site and should be preserved for future generations.
On Tuesday, Fletcher pulled back their team at Ihumātao which protesters saw as a sign of progress for their cause, and a possible resolution on the cards.
But Fletcher said it was simply making some changes to its traffic management plan in response to reduced activity at the site.
'Once a draft agreement is reached by all parties, this will then be subject to final approval by all councillors at the Governing Body next month.'