Local football team to show their colours in support of protecting Ihumātao
Football Club, Onehunga-Mangere United, intend to make a statement at their match today by wearing shirts showing their
support for the campaign to stop the contentious SHA62 development at Ihumātao. The development would see 480 high-cost
houses built on confiscated Māori land next to the Otuataua Stonefields.
Onehunga-Mangere United is competing in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 2 for the 2017 season, playing a home game
at the Mangere Mountain Domain today, 25 April at 3pm.
On the afternoon of the Anzac commemoration the team will take on Waiheke United and wear 'Protect Ihumātao' T-shirts
during the pre-match warm up and the after function following the game.
The aim is to show solidarity with SOUL, the mana whenua-led Mangere community group, that has been battling Fletcher
Residential to block the SHA62 development that will result in the desecration of historically significant land at
Ihumātao termed ‘wāhi tūpuna’.
Roger Gummer, a spokesperson of SOUL, states that "it's great to see the community get behind the campaign through
positive activities such as sports. I commend the Onehunga-Mangere United team for showing their support in the best way
they can - on the field".