Ihumaatao set for Christmas wrapping 14 Dec 2020 13:42 PM
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Crown Māori Relations Minister Kelvin Davis says there may be an announcement after the meeting.
Radio New Zealand is reporting the proposal is for the crown to buy the contested land from Fletcher Building, which had intended to build 480 homes on what the previous National Government had designated a special housing area.
With Fletcher out of the picture, officials would work with mana whenua to get agreement on how the land can be used.
It has been almost 18 months since members of the Save Our Unique Landscape group occupied the land to stop the bulldozers.
Ihumātao: From confiscation to present-day campaign for whenua s return stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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The future of the land at Ihumātao is still uncertain. “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. “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.
I m not here to make any announcements relevant to that issue today or to give a timeline, Ardern responded to questions about a potential deal at her post-Cabinet press conference. Once we have an agreement to be announced we ll announce it.
IhumÄtao is an area of historical significance for MÄori near Auckland Airport, where activists have been protesting against Fletcher Building s plans to build almost 500 homes on land it purchased, that was confiscated in 1863 by the Crown.
Protesters from the Save Our Unique Landscape (SOUL) movement say the land should be returned to MÄori, and occupation of the land ramped up in July 2019 after police served occupiers with an eviction notice.Â