In February a commissioner granted
the subdivision consent subject to conditions, including cultural and heritage
requirements, They said, “The evidence was very clear and specific in
relation to the Onoke Cone but not persuasive enough to prevent subdivision of
this lower land for residential subdivision and occupation”.
That decision is now being
appealed to the Environment Court. The grounds for the appeal include it is
inconsistent with Maori values and does not take into account the principles of
the Treaty of Waitangi because the Council did not provide translation services
during the hearing.
Despite the appeal, Green Party leader, Clohe Swarbrick, is reported to have encouraged the hapu to occupy the site.
The Northern Advocate reports: “She
pointed to … Ihumātao,
where protesters occupied the land to prevent a Fletcher
Building housing development near the sacred Ōtuataua Stonefields Reserve. The
site was eventually bought by the
Government for $30 million, showing there are solutions outside the
box.” A spokesperson for Ngāti Kahu said this would be considered.
So now the Green Party is encouraging the illegal occupation of private land when objectors don’t get their way through the consenting process.
We wonder if this is an approach our Green
councillors support?
References
The WDC decision may be seen here
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The Advocate article may be seen here >>>
