Iwi blockades are in place at the Tauranga Harbour Entrance to stop commercial shipping traffic leaving the Port of Tauranga.
A flotilla of small boats is positioned at strategic points in the shipping lane of the Port of Tauranga and have signalled to the port authorities they will not give way to any commercial vessel that attempts to cross their lines, says a statement released from Ngai Te Rangi.
"The flotilla controller has also signalled that recreational boats will not be impeded.
"The protest is not aimed at the Port of Tauranga, but instead aims to assure the Prime Minister and Minister of Treaty Negotiations that Ngai Te Rangi will not accept any Crown deal that gives rights to Tauranga Moana to a Hauraki Collective of iwi and hapu.
"Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson is pushing through a secret deal that would give those rights to the Hauraki Collective, in an area where they have not been traditionally located."
Further action is planned for Saturday June 17.
The statement released this morning says Ngai Te Rangi plans long term protests and is setting up a base camp on Matakana Island.
SunLive has put in calls to both Ngai Te Rangi and Port of Tauranga and will update this story as soon as we have more.
17 comments
Nothing new
Posted on 15-06-2017 10:41 | By rastus
At last some Iwi have acknowledged that this 'strange' MP has been conducting covert negotiations with various tribes for a very long time - we the public hear about his dealings after the event - how much pain he has caused that will continue to reverberate for many years to come has this person wrought upon our collective society - and some of you still berate Winston for his leadership in such matters.
Here we go again
Posted on 15-06-2017 10:51 | By surfsup
Get the police and whoever is needed to remove these protesters asap, no pc nonsense , they are breaking the law deal with them.
WHAT
Posted on 15-06-2017 10:52 | By thebrad
Its Thursday morning why are they not at work?
National's chickens coming home to roost
Posted on 15-06-2017 11:00 | By Captain Sensible
What a disgrace. Thanks Simon and your National mates for allowing this nonsense.
Good to see...
Posted on 15-06-2017 11:32 | By morepork
...that local Iwi are recognising the same danger in backroom deals that worries many of us. This Government is far from transparent. You would hope that the local Iwi's rights would be respected without having to resort to disrupting the flow of the Port, and once the issue has been publicized, things could get back to normal. The place for Ngai Te Rangi to fight this is in the Courts and not on the harbour.
Simply...
Posted on 15-06-2017 11:52 | By penguin
...arrest the protesters for failing to give way to/keep clear of large vessels over 500 tonnes (see maritime rules) and that are unable to manoeuvre easily or restricted to channels.
But why....
Posted on 15-06-2017 11:55 | By Tassie
disrupt the port and local peoples jobs.
blockade
Posted on 15-06-2017 12:02 | By dumbkof2
this has surely got to be illegal. dosnt the law state that they must give way to vessels over 500 tonns. if this is correct then they are stopping bussiness from going about their lawful business and should be arrested
Flotilla ?
Posted on 15-06-2017 14:09 | By sobeit
More a damp squib. About 50 rabble on the spit with 6 small runabouts and a canoe paddling around. They wouldn't have been able to stop a rowboat. What a joke .And the media rises to their bait yet again. Obviously no reporter actually witnessed this joke but was fed the story and the photo.
No sympathy
Posted on 15-06-2017 14:15 | By overit
Oh how the tide has turned(excuse the pun). Feel the pain.
Utterly disgusting actions of an unwanted MP.
Posted on 15-06-2017 14:27 | By SVO7
This MP is such a disgrace. He is more than willing to give away all of NZ to his pet tribes. He should be ashamed of his actions against the majority of NZrs. He deserves no respect or trust and I hope voters remember his treatment of the average NZr and toss his party out of the Beehive.Good to see some action from the local iwi..I'm not a fan of settlements but they deserve to be heard and they should not have to fight to have their say.
Maori battles
Posted on 15-06-2017 15:31 | By begesch
So, do I get that right. Maori tribes are blocking 'Pakeha facilities' who support them, to fight their tribes battles. Not really thought through realistically, has it been?
Some points of observation
Posted on 15-06-2017 18:43 | By Tgaboy
- I am glad that local iwi are defending theirblocal rights against the shady dealings of this minister.- if this were a white man blocking the harbour entrance would they be arrested?- I hope the protestors applied for legitimate leave from their respective employment. Are they employed?
When will this end?
Posted on 15-06-2017 19:14 | By Batman1
Pfft I know what I would have done if I was the skipper of that big ship haha
here we go again
Posted on 16-06-2017 19:33 | By old trucker
Agree with By Batman 1 and By Tgaboy you are both correct, me knows what i would have done,(BUT) would not be printed, AWESOME YOU 2 WELLdone, Sunlive, No1,Thankyou 10-4 out.PHEW, this story brings out what people think and are SICK of this,
Employment
Posted on 20-06-2017 12:46 | By NZer
It would be totally understandable if the port did not hire any iwi workers after this......
Poor comparisons
Posted on 20-06-2017 17:19 | By Papamoaner
Have you all forgotten the wharfie strikes of the 1960's? EG; the Wainui dispute etc? Or are you all too young to know? Almost brought the country to its financial knees. This is comparatively minor. Want to stop this protest instantly? Easy ! - All they need to do is sit down together and talk, ESPECIALLY the listening part.
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