March 27, 2017
Iwi short changed on Point England deal
Labour MP Meka Whaitiri says iwi should have been offered the surplus Housing New Zealand land that was handed over to the Tamaki Regeneration company.
Labour is opposing the sale of a neighbouring reserve to Ngati Paoa, because of the precedent it sets for central government to take away the city’s remaining green spaces on the pretext of solving Auckland’s housing crisis.
Ms Whaitiri sits on the select committee considering the bill allowing the Point England sale, and says it has been made clear the crown does not consider the deal part of Ngati Paoa’s treaty settlement.
That highlights the flawed process at work.
"There was land available to Ngati Paoa for their treaty settlement. The government chose not to do it. The Maori Party should have been there battling on their behalf to get that land before we went down into this reserve, which is what this Bill is about. That's why Labour is standing opposed to that Bill. We are not standing against Ngati Paoa 's treaty settlement, says Meka Whaitiri.
FULL INTERVIEW WITH MEKA WHAITIRI
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