Brief Timeline with Supporting Links
1863 – Govenor George Grey issues conquest to evict Maori from their land at Ihumatao
1863 – The Crown creates a law to legalise the confiscation of those lands (NZ Settlement Act 1863) and is grants the land to The Wallace Family (Scotish Farmers).
2014 – Te Kawerau a Maki – Treaty Settlement
2016 – The Wallace Family sell the confiscated land
2017 – Fletcher Buildings to build 480 homes on the originally confiscated land,
2019 – SOUL – Save Our Unique Landscape & Protest to protect the land at Ihumatao
It’s July 2019, an evening winter and as I prepare myself to get warm for the evening ahead, I’m thinking of Dame Whina Cooper and Dame Tariana Turia’s plight, among many other great women who have lead our Maori people to victory which has been the shaping of our time and our nation as a people since colonisation.
A surge of excitement and sorrow hits me at the same time
realising and reflecting on the genetic makeup I have as a Maori but
nevertheless knowing I’m about to walk into a season of time for my people that will make history… again. Bastion Point
On the drive out from West Auckland to South Auckland, I’m heading to Ihumatao to show my support and be among the people, my people.
To be in solidarity, togetherness and unity. Again, the feeling of excitement
shivers down my body with the urge to hurry up so I can be there quicker, but know that every car that feels like it’s getting in the way is holding me back from being closer to standing at Ihumatao – a signal that means ‘take your time Scottie, it’s not going anywhere…’.
As I pull up to the Ihumatao straight coming into the settlement area, I’m immediately greeted by cars, trucks, vans, SUV’s of people who have parked up on the side of any spare bit of parking space they can and joined in the walk towards the ‘occupied’ area. Again, I’m excited to be walking shoulder to shoulder with my people on something that means an incredible amount to each and every one of us. This isn’t about land issue or real estate, it’s more! So much more.
Land to Maori is about many concerns for us. Not about our ownership, but our stewardship and kaitiakitanga. A responsibility we take seriously as guardians of the land for its gift to mankind is about life. growth and mauri, breath of life and wellbeing. Land is also about connectedness and whakapapa, geneaology. About identity and protecting that is far more greater in significance for our forefathers and mothers walked that land and gave life to us hence our role to protect it – not to mention this particular bit of land is one of the last standing sites of significance that identify that journey and losing it will bury the tale it tells in its current form for the rest of eternity to what seems to be an overcrowded population of migrants and non-Maori who won’t appreciate its significance or our roles.
As I’m flagged by a parking warden, I’m guided into a nearby street that has some parking in it. “Thank you brother” as I yell out the window. I find me a park on the curb side hoping that I’m not going go to piss off the locals or even more, the Auckland Council to later return to a ticket. And then realise why would council come out here to ticket all these people when they’ve already admitted their wrongs for signing off the building development at Ihumatao? Yeah right… [up goes the break].
I get out of my car and almost feel like I’m attending a concert with friends as I put on a big coat, scarf, chuck my woolly hat in my pocket along with my keys and some cash to buy hot food and drinks. My intention isn’t to receive freely, but to give. To be apart of the moment and support shoulder to shoulder our people who are willing to die for their whenua (Maori ancestral land of generations).
As we start walking what ends up taking about a 10 minute walk before we finally start ascending towards the already massive crowed, your confronted with the smell of burning fires and smoke, people walking everywhere and some walking away after probably having been at the occupation for some time, you see people in swanndri, Kathmandu jackets and the sea of people stomping in their well worn gumboots with mud (probably cow dung) all over them slamming the concrete as they’re walking and an overwhelming representation of placards, signs, posters, flags and tents with repeated words of “not one more acre”, “protectors, not protesters”, “give back our mana, give back our land”, “hell no to Fletchers”, “represent us Jacinda, we matter too…”.
Now I’m in amongst this weird hype of people pulling together representing and making a stance for what they are there for in providing a voice and another face to the ever-growing population of people adding to the protest.
I’m immediately overwhelmed. The pure significance of this cause is one of mixed emotions again. The car ride was bad enough, now I’m here faced with it and I’m immediately choking on intense emotions and the overwhelming feeling of solidarity – its so precious yet extremely sad. How is it we are here? Why are we having to do this…again? What is wrong with this picture that I’m standing shoulder to shoulder with people who are prepared to give their lives at whatever cost… it’s just wrong!
We’re now in the midst of all these people and the sound of the laddle hitting a pot to sound the ringing of a bell indicating it’s time for karakia, church. Everyone bows their heads and prayer starts. Not a single sound of noise. Everyone’s head is down, caps and beanies are off and the pure silence is almost ghostly with the respect given to pray and reflect giving everyone the opportunity to manifest thoughts of hope, faith, and resolution to a massive issue for the people of Ihumatao.
As I look up after prayer has commenced, I’m taking in the atmosphere which is full of people. Maori, an African group has just arrived in their colours of representation as they walk through with a crowd adding another 20 more people to the already thousands there, the Tongan community waving their flags to show their support and love similarly to that of the Cook Islands, Samoan, Fijians, pakeha, a university group of activists who have also shown up to support Ihumatao and more. A real representation of mankind. Almost the United Nations – And its beautiful!
After shaking hands and saying ‘Kia Ora’ hello to people passing by, you walk past what almost looks like a city of Tents and Gazebos. Whanau working extremely hard to feed and fill the masses. Something that I know of as one thing Maori are very precious about is ensuring that you manaaki or provide kai/food to the people for their aroha, tautoko and manaakitanga (love, support and care). Typical of Maori too to always ensure that people are warm and fed. True manaakitanga – hospitality.
I quickly realise that its provided free of charge. The place looks like a popular flea market or night market with steam coming from the gazebos and people working hard with pots and pans, frybread, soup, cakes and biscuits – all which have been donated by kura, schools and groups in order to feed everyone. Regardless of your race, religion, colour or creed. Haere mai, anei te kai (come in, here’s some food). Just pure love and beauty manifesting in its greatness by the people, for the people.
I walk over to the neighbouring field where its ‘Tent City’. People have taken camp out in the fields blotched all over the place with their whanau. Mums, Dads, kids and babies. Yes, some babies as young as months old wrapped up and being passed around almost as if it was a village looking after a child. Some of these people aren’t related or nor do they know each other. But they welcome you over to their fire circle and invite you to sit down among the warmth of the fire and circle of togetherness.
You hear the phrases of “Haere mai, come, sit here. Keep
warm whanau. Bring your babies over so their warm…”. – Just beautiful!
“Haere mai, come, sit here. Keep
warm whanau. Bring your babies over so they’re warm…”. – Just beautiful!
As you sit and steer into the fire or look up to the boundary line which people are protecting, you see police by the load, standing there monitoring and watching you – some who looked like they wouldn’t mind
joining in on the warmth of the fire and welcoming aroha.
Then you hear the words “waiata mai, whanau” (let’s all sing together), and someone grabs their guitar, sits in the circle and the Maori strum starts accompanied with fourty odd people singing in unison and harmony some classic old Maori folk songs. Tutira Mai Nga Iwi, Pa Mai and E Kore te Aroha to name a few. Not to mention the few English songs: I don’t want to talk about it by Rod Stewart, Ribbon in the Sky by Stevie Wonder and other timeless titles being sung by all these people being brought together to fight for a common cause everyone is passionate about.
I realised then I had already been there for three hours before It was time for me to exit left and go home. But again, nevertheless, it was amazing! But there was one thing that I wondered as we realised it was time to leave. How much do these beautiful souls really know about what’s going on?
Have they done their research? Have they asked the questions? Do these people know much or are they purely guided by what they feel and are led by their hearts and the warming invitation of the people coming together?
I personally believe that people aren’t aware fully of the history or understand how some of the decision-making processes are made for this kind of issue.
I feel many people understand that although Ihumatao’s land was confiscated in 1863 by the Crown, that it was gifted to a farming family and then sold to Fletcher Buildings for the home development construction after 150 years. However, there is still a white elephant in the room with this issue and that’s the Iwi – Te Kawerau A Maki and Waikato Tainui.
Do they [the Iwi] know? Yes, they do. Have they tried? Yes, they have. So, what’s the problem now? The problem is settling land matters outside of a treaty settlement that has already been settled which Te Kawerau a Maki did in 2014. This settlement included in it the matter before us today with Ihumatao.
So, what happened? Te Kawerau A Maki had a precedented
agreement that although they couldn’t reach full authority to have the land returned to them, they where given back an amount of land along with a principal agreement to have 40 homes for its people.
But this isn’t enough right? No. Because I’m sure when we talk about
having the ancestral land returned to Maori we hope for the lot, not just a
section or two, or a couple of acres right?
So, what’s the way to move forward from here? In a perfect world Fletcher Buildings could gift the land back to the people, but we know that won’t happen.
There is also the issue with the construction of the housing development bordering too close to the Pa site which presents two issues. One, possible destruction of the Pa site by the new settlers in those homes, and Two, the land issue itself when it was originally confiscated.
One of the biggest concerns for me is the fact that Iwi Treaty Settlements for Historic Claims is a contentious issue for the fact that once a Historic Claim has been settled with the Crown for the past wrongs, it’s almost inevitable that reopening a settlement such as Te Kawerau A Maki for Ihumatao to look at returning the full land that was confiscated will jeopardise the principal agreement and put at risk all previous claims that have been, and are to be settled with the Crown leaving the opportunity open for occupation of land wars all over the country.
So, my thoughts on a solution to moving forward would be for Te Kawerau A Maki to enter into another negotiation to have some of the fletcher building land that boundaries 1km parameter from the stone hedge pa site given back to the Iwi. This will allow for a substantial distance between the homes errected to be away from the Pa site. Then, the Iwi to use that section neighbouring the two sites by planting trees as a barrier to help separate the Pa site and help cordon off the area. Perhaps even plant it with Manuka tree’s? Give it a residual income earning opportunity? This would then prevent anyone from touching
that space, the iwi makes off it by creating Manuka honey and there is still
the divide between the housing development on their land with a borderline to the Pa site protecting that from being possibly destroyed by those who don’t know about the site?
Either way, I see it like this. Moving forward with a historic site such as
Ihumatao is probably better left well alone.
That the land entirely be given back to Maori and building commences somewhere else. That the Auckland Council rescind their decision for construction to take place and a wrong made right. That Te Kawerau A Maki find a resolution to get that land back and turn it into a historic park preventing any futher developments on it from here to the rest of time…
My hope however in total for anyone who stands together in this plight for Ihumatao is that you know the history, you research it and you are fully aware of how today’s issue became to be. Education is the strongest tool used here and I pray that whatever happens, all parties will do whats right and no one is hurt.
Na te Atua koe e manaaki hei tiaki i nga wa katoa…