August 29, 2017
UN finds Ihumatao grievance justified
A United Nations committee has criticised the way the Government pushed through a special housing area that will destroy ancient habitation sites near Auckland International Airport.
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has strongly recommended the scheme be reviewed.
Pania Newton and Delwyne Roberts attended the committee's session in Geneva two weeks ago to put the case for SOUL, a mana whenua led campaign to protect culturally, historically, spiritually and archaeologically significant land at Ihumatao.
Ms Newton says their concerns and criticisms have now been recognised at international level in a way that imposes a duty on the New Zealand Government to reconsider the designation of SHA 62.
The committee noted the inadequacy of the consultation with mana whenua and called for a review, in consultation with all affected Maori, [of] the designation of Special Housing Area 62 to evaluate its conformity with the Treaty of Waitangi, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other relevant international standards.
Fletcher Residential has consents to build 480 high-cost homes on the 32 hectare block of confiscated land.
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