A Murupara iwi group says four years' worth of attempts to share the Kaingaroa Forest between eight tribes is a waste of time.
Te Kokoti Moeroa a Tangiharuru is threatening court action in a bid to decide how to divide the forest amongst the tribes.
The land was transferred to eight tribes, including Tuhoe, Ngati Manawa, and Tuwharetoa under a Treaty settlement with the Crown in 2009.
The settlement allowed iwi to divide the Kaingaroa Forest amongst themselves – a decision they have been unable to reach.
Te Kokoti chairman Pem Bird says there is no other option but to head to the courts.
He expects this process to cost several hundred thousand dollars and hopes for a positive outcome.
'Kaingaroa is part of the cultural DNA of Ngati Manawa and believes dividing it into equal shares is driven by commercial imperatives.”
Pem says those involved have little or no mana whenua in Kaingaroa but are pressing on regardless in the hope the smell of money will sway over Ngati Manawa.
14 comments
wow
Posted on 26-04-2013 16:35 | By patto
cant work it out among them selves what a surprise
Nothing deserved
Posted on 26-04-2013 16:43 | By Captain Sensible
Just give them a forest each...I guess that's what they are aiming for. More mafia ripping us off with treaty lies and fraud. They deserve NOTHING.
Tribe wars
Posted on 26-04-2013 17:19 | By PLONKER
Continue, like while they are all facing off with taxpayers trough then it is all hands on deck for the feast, but now they can not even divi up the spoils honourably, just a reflection of what is yet to come.
JUST ASKING
Posted on 26-04-2013 17:59 | By crazyhorse
And where will this several hundred thousand dollars come from, i hope its from these part maori, not the nz tax payer as normal.
let
Posted on 26-04-2013 19:23 | By Capt_Kaveman
them re fight over it
iwi vs igi
Posted on 26-04-2013 19:56 | By Bronzewing
I Want It, I Got It. Be interesting to see who the igi is
Oh dear...
Posted on 26-04-2013 21:54 | By penguin
And Maori have the audacity to blame the rest of us for their ills!
Moriori!
Posted on 27-04-2013 09:04 | By monty111
Give it all back to the rightful owners!
Racism rampant.
Posted on 27-04-2013 12:28 | By Stricker
The Vote on TV3 recently had a poll asking if NZ was a racist country. Given the pathetic comments with there racist overtones it shows that YES WE ARE A RACIST COUNTRY….. How disgraceful to be known as a NZer in a supposed melting pot of different racial identities What a bunch of racist and fascist people Tauranga has the pleasure of being home too. You act as if this is going to come out of your own pocket. Iwi have a lawyers too you do realise, paid with trust money from rates paid by land they lease out. I suggest you keep your racist slurs to yourself until you better educate your ignorant minds. Imagine if all iwi concerned closed the forest off to the public, how much tax payers money would be wasted in court appearances and court sanctioned sentences for trespassing on private property, poaching on private land, wilful damage to the forest and so forth. Get over it, Maori pay taxes too. How bout you complain about how the Government is willing to use tax payers money to pay for MP accommodation allowances and private 1st class flights for their families… all paid for by the tax payer. That seems a bit more realistic and worthy of your snide comments.
Rastus
Posted on 27-04-2013 14:04 | By rastus
Stricker - One can understand your wrath 'but' you should stick to the point in that the main objection is that after several years the various tribes have not and will not ever agree - so what is new - Maori tribal angst is as powerful today as it has always been and until you can speak and act with one voice, I am afraid your causes are blowing in the wind - this is not a racist comment or ever intended to be my friend - just a matter of fact! If you could all get your acts together then the Maori party could be ruling the land - as it is the way the party is headed, again we will see the disintegration of what started off with so much promise for a better future for all!
Still Arguing
Posted on 27-04-2013 14:13 | By Jitter
"Maori"are still arguing amongst themselves about who owns what just as they did before and since the European arrived. They will never change. What part of cloud cuckoo land does Stricker live in ? Let the various iwi sort out the argument themselves as to who owns what part of the Kaiangaroa forest each owns and pay their own legal fees also from their own funds. Strickers comments re MPs allowances is a Red Herring in relation to this argument even if he is right. He is also right about the racism in NZ but most of it is preached by "Maori" radicals against all othe NZers.
really?
Posted on 27-04-2013 14:22 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
If they can't agree then none of them should have it, give it to someone who is going to actually appreciate it and not argue over who owns what! It's a forest for god sake. Sick of hearing about iwi arguing over land, it's just greedy.
Sell It!!!!
Posted on 27-04-2013 17:35 | By Sambo
end of dispute, they can then march in protest behind a racist flag, protesting asset sales.
Lets not forget
Posted on 27-04-2013 18:07 | By Graeme2
The land that the Kaingaroa Forest sits on was marginal land purchased fair and square at the time. The funds were delivered in cash by Gilbert Mair and in his writings he describes how grateful the Maori sellers were at the time. (He was in fact offered 600 pounds in gifts to thank him). The forest itself was planted mostly by work schemes run by the Government during the depression. A large number of the Maori descendants have worked in the forestry industry. Never mind Michael Cullen still agreed to transfer this crown asset to these tribes just before leaving Parliament and becoming a treaty negotiator for Tuwharetoa. Now that they have received asset of considerable worth, they can't even agree amongst themselves how to divide the loot. Beggars belief.
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