Media Release
Monday June 25, 2007 – Embargoed until 10.30am

Hapū claims institutional racism in Rotorua council

Ngāti Uenukukopako filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission today claiming institutional racism in the Rotorua District Council due to a decision it made that excludes them.

A spokeswoman for the Te Arawa hapū Hera Naera said it was disappointing the council did not offer the same or similar redress to the hapū that it has to the owners of non-Māori ancestral property, despite all parties being similarly impacted by if its plans to turn Rotorua Airport into an international facility are approved.

“Our complaint is not made lightly – we’ve looked very closely into the Council’s decision and what we’ve found is shocking,” Mrs Naera said.

Just recently Ngati Uenukukopako signalled their intention to fight the council’s proposals by filing an appeal to the Environment Court.

The redress offer has been extended to almost every owner, except tangata whenua – Ngati Uenukukopako, whose properties are located in areas where building would be prohibited or restricted, and where the noise caused by airport operations and associated aircraft would be unbearable, Mrs Naera said.

“The council might say we were not offered redress because we didn’t ask for it, however the precedent has been set by the act of offering the redress to others who would suffer similar, if not the same impacts.”

In filing the complaint with the commission, Ngati Uenukukopako is seeking mediation and is seriously considering tabling a request for a cultural audit of the council, Mrs Naera said.

“We aren’t asking for the world, all we are seeking is the same consideration the council appears to be providing some people, but certainly not all of us, and especially not Ngati Uenukukopako.”

The basis for the complaint is specifically due to:

1. The council not offering redress to the owners of ancestral Māori land near the airport despite offering redress to the owners of non-Māori ancestral land in the same area.

2. The council not offering redress to Ruamata Marae, Te Kohanga Reo and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata Marae despite making an offer to the owners of a holiday park which like the marae and kura is immediately under the flight path.

ENDS

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