Ihumātao: Pania Newton 'not so confident' as deal expected to go to Cabinet

Monday, 14 December 2020

Pania Newton of Save Our Unique Landscape (SOUL) says she is 'not so confident' about a deal being announced for Ihumātao any time soon.

Ihumātao kaitiaki Pania Newton is hoping she will celebrate with a beverage this afternoon after reports that an initial deal is expected to go to Cabinet on Monday.

RNZ reported the deal is for Fletcher Building to sell the land to the government, the first step in reaching a resolution; with agreement from Fletchers and Kīingitanga, on behalf of mana whenua.

Newton, a spokeswoman for Save Our Unique Landscape (SOUL), said they'd been here many times before, with many talks of a resolution in the past.

SOUL’s Pania Newton said she is hopeful a positive resolution for Ihumātao is “just over the hill” (File photo).

But, she remains hopeful that come afternoon, the news will be positive.

**READ MORE:

The future of the land at Ihumātao is still uncertain.

* Our Truth, Tā Mātou Pono: Our reporting undermined Māori land rights

* Ihumātao land dispute: Initial deal expected to go to Cabinet today

Ihumātao: Protesters gather to mark one year since police eviction sparked protests (first published December 14, 2020).

* Ihumātao: Campaign group 'winning' one year on from eviction notices

“It's always been a waiting game for us. I'm very uncertain and in saying that I'm not going to put all my eggs in one basket,” Newton said.

“Whatever happens this afternoon I'm confident it’s going to be business as usual, but maybe with a beverage at hand, a celebratory beverage perhaps.”

This year it will be the fourth Christmas they have spent at Ihumātao.

Newton knows that even if a deal is brokered between the Government and Fletcher, there is still a long road ahead before a final resolution is made that benefits the whanau of Makaurau Marae and future of the whenua.

Ihumātao protectors gathered on the land to commemorate one year since the police eviction on July 23, 2020.

“I understand the process after that will be one where all stakeholders and interested parties will come together and decide the possible future for our whenua.

'That will include the whanau of Makarau Marae and Te Ahiwaru and Ngati Mahuta so that’s really exciting because finally the whanau and the marae will be heard.”

But until then, it's business as usual and work on the whenua will continue towards achieving the aspirations the tupuna and their whanau, she said.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stayed tight-lipped to media on Monday morning about reports of a deal, stating repeatedly on Morning Report when there was an update there would be an announcement.

“When there is a resolution, there will be an update.”

Ihumātao in south Auckland was confiscated by the Crown in the 1800s during the Waikato Invasion – a campaign to stamp out the Māori King movement and clear lands for European settlement.

It was owned by the Wallace family for generations, then sold to Fletcher Building, which planned to build 480 houses on the site, in 2014.

Disputing the plans, Newton and others established a “kaitiaki village” on Ihumātao Quarry Rd and have been living there full-time, protecting the land they claim is a sacred Māori site and should be preserved for future generations.

In September last year, the Māori King, Kiingi Tūheitia, announced on behalf of mana whenua they had reached consensus over what to do with Ihumātao, and their position was they wanted it back.

Ardern promised no building would take place at Ihumātao while the government and other parties worked to broker a solution.

SOUL had not been involved in discussions with the government, Newton said, instead, a representative from the Kīingitanga and Waikato-Tainui had been having conversations on their behalf.