After weeks of discussions, mana whenua have come to a decision - that they want the government to negotiate with Fletcher Building to return the land at Ihumātao.
Photo: RNZ / Jordan Bond
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who is in Tokyo, would not say whether the government would step in and buy the disputed land in South Auckland.
"At this stage, our focus is on picking up the good work being done by Kiingitanga. We are very mindful of important issues like Treaty precedent-setting ... like the commercial interests that exist there, but also heritage issues as well."
Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters told Morning Report all political parties in Parliament and iwi had accepted the Treaty of Waitangi settlements.
"That has consequences," he said.
Winston Peters Photo: RNZ /Dom Thomas
As someone who had been involved in Māori land law way back in the '70s, he said it was fundamental to listen to those who had "kept the land warm down through the centuries and even today".
"Who has been keeping the land warm? Those are the people that we're going to listen to."
He said he read the Kiingitanga announcement very carefully.
"If it means they have come to a collective decision when the responsibility lies with someone else, then have you collectively come to a decision?"
His understanding was that the decision announced yesterday hadn't taken into account everyone's views.
He said before the government made a move, it would have to look at whether it was setting a precedent for all Treaty settlements.
"We've got to go into these things eyes wide open in the national interest of all New Zealanders."
Mr Peters said the land at Ihumātao was the result of the Treaty of Waitangi settlement process.
"We always knew this was part of the Treaty process."
He said mana whenua had come under enormous pressure from people claiming to speak for them.
"What's in the best interests of the people there be it their social needs which include housing, papakāinga housing or Fletcher housing was always going to be critical unless you don't think housing is a critical area of need of Māoridom today."
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Qiane Matata-Sipu Photo: supplied
The land near Auckland Airport has been occupied by members of the Save Our Unique Landscape (SOUL) group for almost three years to oppose building 480 houses there.
SOUL member Qiane Matata-Sipu told Morning Report all mana whenua wanted the land returned.
"It seems that Winston Peters is miseducated as to what this whenua is and what's happening to it.
"It has never been settled, it has never been part of a Treaty settlement.
"It's a cultural heritage issue; its a unique piece of landscape with layers of history."
She said if this process brought about changes in Treaty settlements then change was good.
"Our goal was to stop this development and have the whenua returned."
Yesterday Kiingitanga and mana whenua urged the government to negotiate with Fletcher Building to give the land back.
Kiingitanga spokesperson Rahui Papa had said when the Kiingitanga initially supported the Fletcher development, a lot of whānau had been talking about wanting housing and papakāinga.
Fletcher Building, who own the land, in a statement said they would seek urgent discussions with all parties to inform their position.
"Six weeks ago the prime minister requested that Fletcher Building put a hold on our housing development to allow time for discussions between government and iwi to take place. We have not been a party to those discussions and we are disappointed to see they have not produced a resolution."
Ihumātao left out of Treaty settlement - Taonui
Māori political commentator Rawiri Taonui said Auckland Council and the government couldn't wash their hands off the land dispute.
He said the Crown left mana whenua of Ihumātao, Te Ahiwaru and Ngāti Mahuta, out of an Auckland Treaty settlement process 10 years ago.
The council had made billions of dollars from confiscated Māori land in South Auckland, he added.
"Those actions are directly responsible for the situation that we're seeing today ... and the Crown and the council have to front on the solution."
Dr Taonui said a three-way deal between council, government and Fletcher Residential could make it happen.
