October 20, 2016
Ngati Paoa puts case forward for settlement land
A negotiator for Ngati Paoa says it’s unfortunate a row with Ngati Whatua Orakei over treaty settlement properties has ended up in court.
The judge has reserved his decision after a two-day hearing in which Ngati Paoa was forced to defend why it sought two small sections on Grafton Rd and Dominion Road in its settlement package.
Orakei says that’s impinging on its territory.
But Morehu Wilson says under the Tamaki collective settlement, participating iwi have a right to take land out of the right of first refusal process to include in their individual historic settlement packages, as long as they can show historic links.
"Well we used to reside here in Waipapa and we cultivated Pukekawa. We have interests in that area, that's why some of these lands were selected through the landbanked properties because we had an interest in those places. The other one in Dominion Road is really about our interests in Mangawhau, MtEden," he says.
Morehu Wilson says the case has held up treaty settlements for other iwi in Tamaki Makaurau, and the whole process could be thrown into turmoil if Ngati Paoa loses.
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