Maori landowners fighting for their land

Te Tumu land.

A group of Maori landowners is vowing to fight a plan that will strip them of their ancestral land in Papamoa.

SAVE Tumu Kaituna have grave fears that more than 4000 Maori landowners will be cut out of 55 hectares of their land if a proposal by Tumu Kaituna 14 Trust, Tauranga City Council, developers and neighbouring non-Maori landowners to sell the land goes through.

'It's about fair process and whether the proposed development benefit the collective Maori owners and future generations of Maori,” says SAVE Tumu Kaituna co-spoksperson Karen Stowers.

'Maori land is more valuable than money – never sell it.

'The proposed development could provide new housing for 15,500 people, but we have seen no plans that provide housing for the Maori landowners.

'We also must consider if it really is the best use of the land, for our people and the environment, and an over populated urban city,” says Karen.

SAVE Tumu Kaituna co-spokesperson Rawiri Bhana says the plan lacked Maori values including intergenerational thinking and the trustees needed to get back to the table with their people or get off the table.

'A lot of our people are really hurt that those they have put their faith in could potentially sell what little land they have left,” says Rawiri.

'The lack of transparency behind the proposed development and the trust's minimal consultation with Maori landowners is a real cause for concern.

'There is no evidence to show the Trust are putting the owners aspirations and needs first.”

A post on the Tauranga City Council website says council are working with landowners to create a new coastal community in Papamoa East, "to help support our city's future growth".

"Te Tumu is a place of great historic and cultural wealth, both for Tangata Whenua and European settlers. Bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the north, the Kaituna River and farmlands to the south, Te Tumu is well-positioned to connect the city to these resources.

"Tauranga City Council is working closely with landowners, iwi and hapu to collaboratively decide what the future of Te Tumu might look like. You can find out more about this project, what the next steps are and how to have your say, on the pages below."

Read more about the proposed development here.

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6 comments

Leave it alone.

Posted on 13-06-2019 16:31 | By kiwisan

Leave the land in peace. Developers get rich everyone else ends up paying in some way.


SO if its Maori land !

Posted on 13-06-2019 21:59 | By The Caveman

And a large groupe of the ""owners" are objecting to the sale, WHO are the Maori öwners"pushing the sale" AND WHO IS GOING TO GET THE CASH !!! Better option - LEASE the land out to the developers and then "clip the ticket" for the next 99, 199, 299 years. The Maori owners retain ownership and get a return on that ownership !!


Lease a good option

Posted on 14-06-2019 17:14 | By Tumeke Tauranga

I like Caveman's idea of a lease but doubt developers would go for it?


Yes. It is Maori Land!

Posted on 14-06-2019 22:50 | By Dollie

Looks like the Trustees of the land have given their consent for the development. The landowners don't have a say. Matata 6A is a recent case fought in the Environment Court and Maori Owners won. Resource consents given to Whakatane District Council for a sewerage treatment station were rebuked. Kia kaha Mana Whenua.


Tauranga City Council do not consult maori land owners

Posted on 16-06-2019 17:19 | By Mana Whenua

Please investigate whom of the 4,900 maori landowners in Tumu Kaituna 14 the Tauranga City Council have consulted with. You will find only one. The Tumu Kaituna 14 Trusts Chairman Malcolm Short. Not one other landowner has been consulted by TCC


Land owner

Posted on 20-06-2019 18:42 | By nina

Malcolm Short and fellow trustees can stick it where the sun don't shine. They are supposed to be working for the goodwill of the landowners, not the council, or themselves. Ieni Thocolich


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