Maori Deal on Crafar Farms Revealed on Marae Investigates

A new spirit of co-operation between Māori and China could see two of the Crafar farms given over to Māori Trusts.
 
On TVNZ’s Marae Investigates today the Minister of Māori Affairs revealed a deal between the new Chinese owners of Crafar Farms, Shanghai Pengxin and Māori interests was in the offing. 
 
Minister Sharples told  Marae Investigates “ I believe they’re going to sell or give back two of the farms to Māori for a start and respect the wāhi tapu in the others .”
 
Hardie Peni , Chairman of Tiroa and Tehape Trusts,  has been battling to have Māori interests in some of the Crafar Farm land recognised and had been part of the Sir Michael Fay led consortium bidding to buy the farms.   Mr Peni confirmed to Marae Investigates that documents are being drawn up between Māori Trusts and Shanghai Pengxin but said details of the deal were still under wraps.
 
The trusts which represent Tūwharetoa and Ngāti Rereahu interests have for some years been trying to buy  two farms on opposite sides of SH30 at Benneydale in the King Country which they claim were illegally obtained in the 1800s.
 
A Shanghai Pengxin representative in New Zealand Terry Lee confirmed to Marae Investigates that a deal is on the table but wouldn’t comment further citing commercial confidentiality.

ENDS