Tagging onto Mount Domain reserve try-on, we now have the Matakana Island Panepane Point kite flying.

This is nothing to do with cultural significance, grievance claims, but simply iwi want title to own it.

Apparently entered into iwi field of vision only in 2012 – yes, 2012 – that's last year.

The area involved is 200 hectares or 495 acres, the size of two good-size dairy farms or about 3500 standard-size residential sections, to put the land volume into perspective.

The question is, what is the land status currently? Presumably it is Local Authority Reserve land that benefits all NZ citizens, not just vested part-Maori interests.

Claims mean corporate iwi could control of both sides of the Tauranga Harbour entrance and that's not in the long term public interest.

Transfer of title is a farce; and while on the subject, what on earth is Te Komiti Maori anyway?

I suppose it means something like Bay Regional Council Maori Committee, un-elected, not accountable to anyone, stacked with Maori interests – go and check the minutes of meeting held May 9, 2013. Scary stuff.

All meetings are usually held on marae and this TKM group seems to make more calls than council, and that is a travesty of democracy.

Informal secret forums equals done deals behind closed doors, out of the public gaze.

Western Bay citizens must be on the ball and vigilant with a view to opposing these land grabs, and questioning why public don't get any say.

R Paterson, Matapihi.