Disappointment expressed by Fletcher Building CEO, Ross Taylor, reflects the increasing frustration held by many with
this Government’s failure to protect private property rights.[1]
An argument within mana whenua and non-mana whenua has now, with the intervention of Kiingitanga, threatened to
undermine private property rights as well as bring every Waitangi Treaty settlement back under scrutiny.
The Ihumātao situation took an ominous turn on Wednesday when Kingi Tuheitia stated that "Mana whenua agree they want
their land returned, so they can make decisions about its future."[2]
The situation in Ihumātao is already costing taxpayers in terms of money and safety and this Government continues to
fail in taking any firm action to assure private landowners that their rights will be protected.
The protest action that gained public sympathy was supported by groups with no direct association to the issue. One such
group that pushed and partly funded the protest was ActionStation, well known to be closely linked to the current,
Labour-led government. Not only did this group help fund the protest, ActionStation itself is partly funded by taxpayer
funds.
This is added to the tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars in terms of police numbers needed to keep the peace, and the
many hours that police have been taken away from keeping south Auckland safe. Added to this are the millions of taxpayer
dollars when the Ihumātao TOW grievance was settled. Government refusal to intervene on behalf of the lawful property
owners, or the mana whenua who originally supported the agreement with Fletchers, has resulted in six weeks of
negotiation that has achieved nothing and has cost taxpayers dearly.
"We are working to feed our children, look after our sick and elderly, to have a bit of time out for our families," says
Deputy Leader, Elliot Ikilei, "and at every stage of the Ihumātao debacle, it is the New Zealand people who lose.”
Continued misinformation has been circulated with the Government failing to provide accurate details of the history of
the area and the settlements that have already taken place which has added unnecessarily to the grievance mindset that
exists.
"The deal was done,'' clarifies Ikilei, "leave the hard-earned rewards of working men and women alone, and honour the
deal that was already done. This was a deal in the true spirit of leadership by mana whenua to achieve the best outcome
for their iwi.”
Manipulation of facts and external pressure has resulted in no outcome whatsoever. Putting aside the opportunity for
houses to be built, land to be developed, and sacred areas enhanced, Elliot Ikilei highlights the other enormous impacts
to South Auckland.
“All the contractors and trades people that were relying on the income that this work would have achieved have been
completely ignored. The investment in South Auckland that has been halted was the last thing we needed at a time when we
are already impacted by our slowing economy,” says Ikilei.
"For a Government that has campaigned on well-being we need to question whose well-being is being represented. New
Conservative is committed to ensuring all people are equal before the law and property rights are assured and
protected,” he concludes.