Nau mai Haere Mai

Whanau from the Orakei Housing Action Committe will be here in Wellington speaking at this weekends convergence.

when: November 3rd - 3:30pm
where: Zeal - 50 Victoria St, Wellington

For more information on this kaupapa see the press release below

PRESS RELEASE

O.R.A

ORAKEI HOUSING ACTION COMMITTEE

Over the past few months a number of tenants and occupants of homes on Bastion Point have been served with eviction notices from Housing New Zealand requiring them to quit their homes.

A number of beneficiaries of the Ngati Whatua O Orakei Trust Board, along with other members of the community at Orakei have occupied 20 homes on Kupe Street, Orakei after negotiations with their Trust Board broke down.

Many of the beneficiaries were upset to learn that the Trust Board planned to redevelop Kupe Street as a commercial initiative. Their families are being displaced from their papakainga and homes they have lived in all of their lives.

Herawhakamana Sarah Grey, one of the descendants of Ngati Whatua O Orakei said: "Our people did not occupy Bastion Point for our lands to be granted to the rich and well heeled. Our Trust Board needs to listen to the grass roots and the heart of our tribe who are devastated by the actions of a Trust Board who we believe is proceeding with this ill conceived plan without a mandate of the people."

Past experience has proven that unoccupied homes are prone to theft and vandalism. The whanau occupants plan to protect the tribal estate until an alternative housing plan and strategy is formulated and agreed to by the people and the Trust Board.

At a meeting convened with the Trust Board yesterday evening the Trust Board agreed that no further steps would be taken until a further meeting of the beneficiaries and the Trust Board had been convened. This meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 25 September 2001 at 5.00 pm.

"We will take whatever steps are necessary to protect our lands for the future generations of our tribe," said Herawhakamana Sarah Grey.

For further information please contact O.R.A. 191 Kupe Street, Orakei Steve Phillips

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