What big grievance warrants big Ngapuhi settlement?

Big talk from a Kaikohe claimant about a $1.5-billion settlement for Northland tribe Ngapuhi raises the question what is the big grievance they want settled?

The three big settlements that got the gravy train going in the 1990s were more compensation for land confiscations in Waikato, more money for the sale of the South Island, and a whopping share of New Zealand’s commercial fishery.

With no land confiscations in Northland, and with Ngapuhi already benefitting from the fisheries deal, the only remaining reason is presumably more money for old land sales.

But with the South Island about 10 times the size of Northland, and Ngai Tahu having received $170-million plus top-ups for selling most of the South Island, where would a figure of $1.5-billion for Ngapuhi be coming from?

We think that wherever it can be reasonably established that the Crown unlawfully confiscated property from any individual or group, compensation should be paid, provided however that any such compensation should be “full and final”.

But with more than $4-billion already paid to more than 75 post settlement governance entities, the Treaty settlement process looks like a gigantic programme of race-based corporate welfare.

The Treaty Negotiations Minister should tell us what the grievances which Ngapuhi claim are, what is supposed to be settled, and why those who are jostling for position to receive the money are entitled to it.

See https://www.maoritelevision.com/news/regional/raniera-tau-wants-15bil-ngapuhi-settlement

Still claiming private land

A group of Northland Maori who claim that a small piece of land with an accommodation lodge on had been stolen, have smashed cars, abused guests, and broken into the property to try to force the owners out, according to the owner.

The 1.5 hectares located on an isthmus 35km from Russell has a picturesque 120-year-old kauri villa now used as a holiday lodge surrounded by a sun-soaked pocket of native bush.

This is the latest of numerous land claims in Northland that include the high-profile occupation of a farm during the 1980s that forced Allan Titford and five other Kauri Coast farmers to sell up and go.

The Titford stand-off resulted in an amendment to the Treaty of Waitangi Act that prevents the Waitangi Tribunal from making recommendations on private land, although claims for private land continue.

Read the full story of the latest aggressive Maori claim at https://issuu.com/esisite/docs/hauai_te_whenua_ especially pages 189 to 201.

It’s a sad day for property rights when a property owner has to take time off work to collate the evidence that he or she owns his or her property.

Taranaki taniwha awaiting a feed

The taniwha is awaiting another feed, this time regarding a proposed bypass on State Highway 3 from Awakino Gorge to Mount Messenger in Northern Taranaki.

To ensure trouble-free progress on the project, the New Zealand Land Transport Association has offered Ngati Tama a 120ha farm plus other cultural redress. That tribe is also asking that iwi be employed on this road job.

One other major land owner there is getting virtually nothing, according to a source in the area. There is pressure for equal compensation irrespective of skin colour.

Regional “relationships” director Parekawhia McLean should be reminded that if LTSA wants to give a farm to affected iwi they should be prepared to give a farm to the other affected landowners and asked, if not, why not?

McLean has been with the Transport Agency since September 2016 after five years as the chief executive officer of Waikato–Tainui/Te Whakakitenga o Waikato.