An Auckland iwi, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki Tribal Trust, has won a Supreme Court case giving it the right to re-apply for exclusive rights to conduct commercial operations on Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands, (situated in the Hauraki Gulf). The main issue was the interpretation of section four of the Conservation Act, "to give effect to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi".
The iwi claims rangatiratanga, (interpreted as exclusive rights), to conduct commercial tours on the Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands for at least five years. In its appeal the iwi said economic opportunities should be preserved for iwi. It argued the Treaty principles of partnership, active protection, right to development, and redress meant it was neither appropriate nor in accordance with tikanga for other groups to be providing guided tours on the islands.
On winning the appeal, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki Tribal Trust chair James Brown claimed that the decision had national implications.
"This is not just Ngāi Tai and DoC, I think it has national reach for all Māori, especially those with Treaty settlements," he said.
Last month the iwi signed a Conservation Relationship Agreement relationship agreement with the Department of Conservation, which gives them a role as mana whenua in influencing policies, looking after the whenua (land) and taonga species, providing visitor information and protecting waahi tapu (sacred sites).
James Brown told Waatea News "We're wanting to partner in the true sense with our DOC agent, a true treaty partnership and an example of that is how we could partner on Motutapu Island. That is our hope and our preference. We're fast arriving at a point where we are no longer asking for our desires for a treaty relationship, we are almost demanding these days as opposed to asking as we have for 179 years,"
Mr Brown says Motutapu is the largest farm in Auckland and the largest waahi tapu.
The iwi had its own commercial, cultural and customary plans, Brown previously told the Herald. They would be happy to work with other operators, as long as the process properly took into account Treaty principles.
Now that all the hard work has gone into this…….
Motutapu Island Restoration Trust volunteers have gifted countless hours to the ecological restoration of the island these past 25 years. Under the Motutapu Restoration Plan, over 500,000 trees have been planted on the island, and now a native forest that is almost canopy level. Other activities included restoring wetlands, as well as historic site preservation, restoration and interpretation, walking tracks and a visitor centre. Currently the Trust has a five-year concession to conduct small-scale tours of the island.
Media coverage
NZ Herald: Auckland iwi Ngāi Tai to argue in Supreme Court for exclusive rights to Rangitoto, Motutapu
NZ Herald: Auckland iwi Ngāi Tai wins Supreme Court case in stoush over Rangitoto, Motutapu commercial rights
Waatea News: Ngāi Tai takes reins at Motutapu
NZ Herald: Auckland iwi Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki lays out bikes and beds plans for Motutapu
Further recommended reading:
- ‘Drifting into racism, the destruction of New Zealand social structure’ by Dr John Robinson, the author of ‘The corruption of New Zealand democracy, a Treaty overview’, ‘When two cultures meet, the New Zealand experience’, and ‘The Kingite Rebellion’. Other articles by Dr Robinson can be accessed on the Kiwi Frontline Forum by clicking HERE.
- A series of articles - ‘Revisionism of revisionism: taking history back to reality’- by Dr Robinson, published by the Kapiti Independent News, available to read HERE.
- ‘The Stirring Times of Te Rauparaha……’ An account of the celebrated and infamous Ngati Toa leader and his struggle with Ngai Tahu in the South Island. First published in 1872 by W.T.L. Travers and Rev. J.W. Stack. A facsimile of the 1906 edition is available from Smiths Bookshop. Also available online here: https://archive.org/stream/stirringtimesoft00traviala/stirringtimesoft00traviala_djvu.txt
- The Story of Te Waharoa: A Chapter in Early New Zealand History Together with Sketches of Ancient Maori Life and History’ by John Alexander Wilson. Available second hand from Arty Bees books. Also available online here: http://www.enzb.auckland.ac.nz/document/?wid=827&page=0&action=null