Open day at Shelly Bay: Occupiers host public to share their views on the controversial piece of capital real estate

Monday, 8 February 2021

Anaru Mepham of Mau Whenua talks about the history and importance of Shelly Bay.

The occupiers of Marukaikuru Shelly Bay opened the gates to hundreds of people on Monday to show them what they stand for.

“We’ve had so much engagement and support we wanted to open up and give people an understanding of why we want to hang on to this whenua,” said Mau Whenua organiser Anaru Mepham.

He estimated up to 500 visitors came to learn about the occupation by listening to speakers, meeting group members face-to-face, sharing food and listening to music.

Terino Tane Kara outside his teepee at the Marukaikuru Shelly Bay open day. Kara has been at the site for two weeks and said he was tired of getting into a little pup tent, so built himself a teepee.

“It’s been a friendly and fun way of telling our story, and maintaining a firm kaitiaki over the whenua.”

People listening to speakers at the Marukaikuru Shelly Bay open day.

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Anaru Mepham says the open day was a fun and friendly way to engage with the public over the issue of Shelly Bay. Mepham started the occupation as a one-man sentry in November. (File photo)

Mau Whenua has been at the site since November following a vote by Wellington City Council to sell and lease its land at Shelly Bay to developer Ian Cassels. It is made up mostly of members from Wellington iwi group Taranaki Whānui who are also opposed to an earlier sale of Taranaki Whānui land at Shelly Bay to Cassels.

They want the land returned to Māori.

A controversial $500 million Shelly Bay project, led by Cassels has been interwoven with allegations of the illegal sale of Māori land, perceptions Wellington City Council bent to Cassels’ will, and concerns the seaside site and road to it can’t handle the proposed intensification.

Waikanae man Josh Parata, a DJ, was involved with organising the day’s music acts which included Māori acts Israel Starr, Grove Roots and Amba Holly.

Parata joined the occupiers full-time in December and says the occupation has grown from being an improvised and “pretty rough” camp to a well-organised village with a kitchen, hot showers and garden.

Much of his time was spent talking to visitors about Mau Whenua’s aspirations, and providing for the permanent occupiers and other supporters who were constantly coming and going.

“On quieter days we might do some fishing – we’ve got a spot for blue moki and we collect kina and pāua – or we might to some gardening.”

Mepham and Parata both called the day a success saying visitors had been keen to engage and listen to what the occupiers had to say.