Letter to the Editor, Tuesday Septmeber 15, 2015

Not standing alone

I would like to convey my and my family's thanks and gratitude to the many people, Maori and Pakeha alike, from throughout the Far North, throughout the country and from overseas, who supported our repossession of our lands at Kaitaia airport last week.

Thank you for your gifts of food and money and the hundreds of messages of support that we received.

We would particularly like to acknowledge and thank Patukoraha and Ngai Tohianga hapu of Ngati Kahu, all the other hapu of Ngati Kahu, the chairperson, marae delegates and staff of Te Runanga-a-Iwi o Ngati Kahu and the whanau of Te Rarawa, Ngai Takoto, Te Aupouri and Ngati Kuri who stood with us.

We also thank the MP for Northland, Winston Peters, and MP Pita Paraone, for supporting us and conveying our message so clearly and expertly in Parliament.

We also acknowledge the media, both Maori and Pakeha, who took the time to read and understand our press releases and to make sure that our message of the gross injustices being perpetrated against us was conveyed accurately to the world. Of course, there were a few who chose to ignore the information they were provided with and to create their own story that left out the relevant facts. But such is the freedom of the press.

The correct story is that the government took the land in the early 1940s as part of its World War II effort, promising to return it at the end of the war. They have refused to do that, despite extensive negotiations. The Erstich whnau of Patukraha has been asking and waiting patiently for over 70 years.

The government decision to sell the stolen properties to a neighbouring iwi has resulted in Patukraha and Ngi Tohianga taking the only recourse available to them, which is repossessing their lands.

This matter has now come to the attention of the United Nations in Geneva, and this week discussions are being held with the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in order to bring pressure on the New Zealand government to stop imposing its unfair, unjust and seriously flawed Treaty settlements process on Ngati Kahu, and to reach agreement with us on a fair and just process.

My thanks once again for all the support provided.

ANTHONY (MATENGA ERSTICH) HOUSHAM

Kaitaia