‘Protection Mechanism a Farce’ says Maori Party

Tariana Turia, Member of Parliament for Te Tai Hauauru

Wednesday 7 March 2007

In what is unfolding to be yet another chapter in the Government’s mis-management of Maori land, Taranaki hapu, Ngati Tamaahuroa and Titahi, have been forced to move on to their tribal lands, the site of the former Te Kiri Primary School.

“I met with the hapu on Monday” said Mrs Turia, Member of Parliament for Te Tai Hauauru.

“They told me of their ongoing grief at the Government’s action, this time via the Ministry of Education, in putting up Maori land for sale”.

“It defies belief that Government can continue to perpetuate injustices on the peoples of Taranaki. These are a people which the Waitangi Tribunal has reported, as having suffered “continuing expropriation by various means from purchase assertions to confiscation after war” said Mrs Turia.

The Waitangi Tribunal report dealt with 21 claims concerning the Taranaki district, and the related land wars and confiscations. That report described massive property loss, personal injury, social impairment and forfeited development opportunities that the peoples of Taranaki experienced from 1841 onwards.

“And here we have today, 166 years later, lands which were confiscated and which have been used for educational purposes, suddenly being put up for sale, instead of a process being determined for their return” said Mrs Turia.”

“I listened to the Prime Minister last week, telling Maori they must follow due process” said Mrs Turia. “And yet her own departments are making a mockery of the Treaty settlement process by undermining the capacity of the Crown to return tribal land to its rightful owners”.

“Who cut Maori off from due process, I wonder?” asked Mrs Turia. “It has only been two years since the Foreshore and Seabed Bill was passed, and yet still the mis-appropriation of land from their rightful owners continues – this time it would appear to be via the Protection Mechanism route”.

“What we have seen with both Te Kiri and Pihama primary schools in the Taranaki rohe, is that despite ongoing peaceful and prolonged attempts to have their claims heard, Ngati Tamaahuroa and Titahi hapu have been ignored” said Mrs Turia.

“It is incomprehensible that Government continues to try to out-manoeuvre the people, and constrain Maori land ownership, whether it be by Landcorp, OTS, the Ministry of Education or their various Ministers” said Mrs Turia.

“I have every sympathy for Ngati Tamaahuroa-Titahi who have sought to have their claim recognized and yet have been cut off at every turn. They've informed the Police, the Education Minister, the Office of the Treaty Settlements and other key players of their long-standing concerns – and their intentions to move on to their lands – I think they've been both extremely patient and responsible” said Mrs Turia.

“As I understand the case, the Trustees of Oeo Marae in Taranaki made the call to ensure due attention is given to the issue of injustice in returning confiscated lands”.

“We will be asking the Government to listen to their call and to act with honour, in yet another matter of the unjust sale of Maori land”.

Background

The Protection Mechanism is intended to provide an opportunity for Māori to indicate that particular surplus properties are important to them and may be a valued part of a future Treaty settlement. Such properties may be purchased by the Office of Treaty Settlements and held in a landbank until such time as they may be required for use in a settlement.

The Maori Party will be raising questions with both the Education Minister and the Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations about whether the Protection Mechanism was adhered to, in the case of the Taranaki Schools.

ENDS

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