Deal ends protest at Opotiki

By HAMISH RUTHERFORD at Waiotahi
An occupation of the Waiotahi Drifts subdivision near Opotiki ended yesterday when developers agreed to gift another section to Whakatohea hapu members to bury human remains.

Bones from two skeletons, estimated to be between 250 and 300 years old, were uncovered during earthworks on September 16.

Developers had already gifted a reserve at the entrance to the subdivision to Whakatohea with an agreement any human remains found at the site would be buried in it.

However on September 18 a group of protesters, claiming support from the Upokorehe hapu, set up camp demanding the bones be buried where they were found.

A meeting with developers on Saturday prompted the offer of another reserve near where the bones were found.

Whakatohea Maori Trust Board chairman Robert Edwards said the offer had been accepted by all the hapu, and quickly acted on.

"It's done, they're buried."

Mr Edwards said the protesters had agreed to leave and began packing up last night.



Project manager Steve Carter confirmed the developers had offered to gift a reserve as a way of being sensitive to the wishes of local people.

The developers had intended that the land be used for a house.

Mr Carter said the section had not been sold but was not sure if it meant one less house in the subdivision.

Mr Carter asked The Daily Post to leave the site yesterday.

On Saturday one of the protesters Peter Helmbright, who described himself as chairman of the Upokorehe resource management committee, said he had served an abatement notice to the developers and had no intention of leaving.

Mr Helmbright said before the recent discovery about 20 more human bones had been found during earthworks at the site and reburied without his knowledge.

He said he only heard about the more recent discovery when a contractor working on the site told him of it.

For some the occupation was an issue of sovereignty. During it the bones were surrounded by an English flag, a Union Jack and the flag used by Maori following a declaration of independence in 1835 by Maori chiefs.

One protester said he could arrest anyone who passed between the flags, including police, although the occupation ended peacefully.

The bones uncovered on September 16 were buried yesterday, along with another 12 bones the protesters said they found during their occupation.

Under the agreement any more human remains found during earthworks will also be buried in the new reserve.

Mr Edwards said ending of the occupation was a great relief for the iwi.

"I think we all had the same idea, it was just a matter of where they were going to be placed."

Although he believed the protesters were unlikely to return, they would probably regret the placement of the bones on the new reserve.

"There will be buildings all around it, but they can't see that far."