Maori occupiers vow to stay `as long as it takes'

By Rosaleen MacBrayne

OHIWA - A small group of Maori land protesters set up camp yesterday on a reserve overlooking Ohiwa Harbour in the eastern Bay of Plenty.

Led by Tuhoe activist Tame Iti, they say they have gathered to express their concerns about the future of Ohiwa and will stay put "as long as it takes."

"Our intention is not about confrontation; it's about getting information out to the public," said Mr Iti.

Yesterday morning, about 40 residents received eviction notices in their letterboxes, informing them they were living on stolen land and had a year to leave.

The protesters expect to distribute up to 400 such notices around the district, which is made up of dairy farms, orchards and lifestyle blocks.

Recipients are being invited to talk to those at the occupation site about their claim that the land was taken illegally under the NZ Settlement Act 1863, through an order-in-council in 1866.

The protesters, gathered under the banner of Te Tatau Pounamu o Mataatua, claim to represent four local iwi: Tuhoe, Ngati Awa, Whakatohea and Te Whanau Apanui.

Spokeswoman Sharon Campbell said they were worried about pollution of Ohiwa Harbour and possible development by foreign investors.

"We will be locked out of our own food baskets."

The occupation was not about scare-mongering but about raising awareness, she said.

"The Crown stole our land and it's time to give it back. We do not want money - we want the land."

The Opotiki District Council chief executive, Peter Guerin, said land ownership was a matter for the Crown to resolve and this was being done through the Whakatohea Ropata negotiations.

He said the council was taking no immediate action on the occupation of its reserve land and was prepared to talk to kaumatua from the Upokorehe hapu, the main tangata whenua for Ohiwa.

Residents in the small harbourside settlement did not appear bothered by the land occupation or eviction notices.

The Rev Jim Greenaway, an Anglican social justice commissioner who was a Hikoi of Hope coordinator, has owned property at Ohiwa for 25 years and lived there for 12.

He visited the camp, which is about 300m from his home and 2km from the main highway between Opotiki and Whakatane.

Locals shared concerns for the future of the harbour, said Mr Greenaway. "But how it is achieved is a matter of debate."

However, talking about the issues was positive.

At the Ohiwa Family Holiday Park, which is out of sight of the protest, about 500 campers got on with their holiday.

Lana Morgan, who runs the camp with husband Phil, said a few people had telephoned to check if it was safe to take up their bookings, but none had cancelled.

Sergeant Rob Jones, of Opotiki police, said that since the occupation was not on freehold private land, the police were merely keeping a watching brief.

Pictured: Jim Greenaway. HERALD PICTURE / BRENDON O'HAGAN