Bid to secure $1.5m payout for Motiti islanders

Kate Barry-Piceno as counsel for Motiti Environmental Management Group. Photo/John Borren

THE Motiti Environmental Management Group wants to use proposed mitigation funds of $1.5 million to improve infrastructure on the island if the proposal to abandon the Rena wreck goes ahead.

The group, made up of a collective of landowners and land shareholders on Motiti, both Pakeha and Maori, are in support of the application to leave the wreck and say they are taking a pragmatic approach to the situation.

Kate Barry-Piceno, counsel for Motiti Environmental Management Group, said group members had regular meetings with the owners of the Rena, with scientists and salvors staying on the island right from the outset.

The group was "actively involved" in consulting and negotiating with the applicant over the proposed Motiti Project Fund, a payout of $1.5 million for the benefit of Motiti that will go ahead if the Rena's owners and insurers succeed in their application.

Ms Barry-Piceno said access to and from the island was an ongoing issue for "Motitians" as most airstrips were in private hands.

"Securing safer and improved community-owned air and water access, improving rundown roadways and installing water systems are all the kinds of projects the Motiti Project Fund could enable through granting this consent."

Ms Barry-Piceno said the island's environment was at risk because of its unprotected waterways, lack of community wastewater or freshwater systems and lack of public infrastructure.

Long drops were still in place on the island and fed into the water.

In making their decision to support the applicant, Ms Barry-Piceno said the group's tangata whenua members considered it best to follow their traditions of relying on their elders, known collectively as Korowai Kahui o Nga Pakeke o Te Patuwai.

Group chairman Peter Grant said the decision to support the application was not made lightly and was not based solely on the financial compensation being offered.

"If the consent is granted and the project fund is established, we will finally be able to gain closure with the conflicts between our people."

At the end of Mr Grant's presentation Jim Takotohiwi, who owns land on Motiti but has not been a resident on the island for many years, stood up to speak.

Mr Takotohiwi said he was aghast to see his name registered as a member of Motiti Environmental Management Group and in support of the wreck staying.

He had sat in on the hearings since the beginning and had slowly been forming his own view, which now leaned towards full removal.