Plans 'well under way' for claim on Auckland - Ngapuhi leader

Both claims for greater Auckland stretch from the Mahurangi Peninsula to the Firth of Thames, and from Manukau Harbour to Piha. Photo / Dean Purcell

A power struggle is brewing with the victor laying claim to Auckland.

Ngapuhi leader David Rankin said yesterday plans were "well under way" for the iwi to make a Treaty claim on the greater Auckland area.

It comes just a day after the Maori King, Tuheitia Paki, said Tainui was planning to make a claim on the region — a claim the Government has agreed to hear.

Rankin said Ngapuhi's plans for a claim were five secret years in the making. He decided to make them public after King Tuheitia's announcement during his annual speech at Turangawaewae Marae on Friday

Rankin claimed the Maori King's claim was "a bit cheeky".

"His ancestors didn't even sign the Treaty and now he wants a piece of the action. But Ngapuhi's message to him is clear: keep out of Auckland until we've finished with it."

Rankin said his claim was based on the Crown ignoring Ngapuhi when settling the Auckland claim with Ngati Whatua, which he said was a breach of the Treaty.

The Tainui claim is understood to have a similar basis.

Both claims for greater Auckland stretch from the Mahurangi Peninsula to the Firth of Thames, and from Manukau Harbour to Piha.

Treaty experts say if either claim were successful it would have no bearing on life in the city.

Nick Russell, from law firm Chen Palmer, said private land could not be caught up in the claims.

"The bottom line is that while the Crown may offer back some land that is still in Crown ownership, most of what is offered back to iwi is symbolic things or money.

"If there is land the Crown owns, the issue they'll have is what land could be available for settlement that hasn't been offered back to Ngati Whatua or set aside for housing."

Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiation, Chris Finlayson, has agreed to hear Tainui's claims. A spokesman said Finlayson did not have enough information about the Ngapuhi claim to comment.