Update Feb 21: A group of iwi occupying two Crafar farms may be a little rough around the edges, but it's got a smoothly-polished PR pitch.
Ngati Rereahu is positioning itself as a bulwark against the Shanghai Pengxin bid.
Yesterday afternoon, the group setup on one of two neigbouring farms in the King Country that are part of the 16 Crafar properties up for sale.
Ngati Rereahu spokesman Edward Moana-Emery said his South Waikato iwi had claim to the the land the Treaty of Waitangi. Around 20 people were taking part in the occupation, Mr Moana-Emery said, with shipping containers being moved to the edge of State Highway 32 on the edge of one of the farms at Benneydale.
"What can we say to the Chinese people is: 'You’re inheriting stolen land'," Mr Moana-Emery told RNZ.
"They didn’t like it when the Brits invaded their part of the world. No Maori can go across to China and buy Chinese land," the protestor added.
"If they think they can come in and buy stolen land, they've got another thing coming."
Receiver relaxed
Crafar Farm receiver Michael Stiassny said, "We’re still trying to work out exactly what’s going on."
“We understand the containers etc will be erected on the state highway which is somewhat removed from our farming activities. We’re quite happy there’s a clear understanding that whatever happens on site will not be disrupting the milking operations."
Mr Stiassney said he was aware of the treaty claim. But the KordaMentha partner said the pa site in dispute was not part of the proposed Shanghai Pengxin sale - now subject to a High Court-ordered review.
Sell it to us
Mr Moana-Emery said the occupation was peaceful, and he hoped it would remain that way.
The Ngati Rereahu spokesman claimed, "We have got the money to buy these two farms. We don’t care how many millions it costs because of the cultural significance regarding it."
KordaMentha put the 16 Crafar Farms up for sale as a single entity.
Feb 20: The sale of the Crafar farms is becoming more intertwined in petty disputes following a claim by local Iwi calling for a return of their “ancestral land”.
Further controversy surrounding the Crafar sales has been added today when a group of local Iwi moved on to a Benneydale farm in their own version of an ‘occupy movement’, in a hope to claim their “ancestral land” to be returned to them instead of being sold off.
The Benneydale property is one of 16 Crafar farms included in the sale offer from Chinese company Shanghai Pengxin.
The occupiers, who claim they are not associated with the Sir Michael Fay group currently challenging the Chinese deal, say they “will not be going away”.
The protest group, from Ngati Rereahu, began setting up camp on Monday afternoon.
It is using shipping containers as a base.
A Ngati Rereahu spokesman, Edward Moana-Emery, told media the protest is a continuation of the 126-year fight with the Crown and is part of its Treaty settlement.
The land was once part of the iwi's ancestral whenua, Mr Edward Moana-Emery claims, and two Maori land trusts were part of the Crafar farms purchase group trying to buy back the land.
The group's action is not a knee jerk reaction to the controversy surrounding the Crafar farms sale, he said.
On order of the High Court last week, the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) is reconsidering aspects of its consent recommendation for Shanghai Pengxin to purchase the farms.
After judicial review proceedings brought by the Fay-led group of farmers and local Iwi, the High Court ruled the OIO in recommending approval of the Chinese bid to the government, did not properly apply the economic benefit test in the Overseas Investment Act.
Comments and questions
Yeah suddenly when it becomes for sale it is Iwi ancestral land, thats why all this treaty bull--- has to stop.
Everybodies getting in on the act
Good stuff!
Now we will see if the law is upheld - Maori occupation of private property!
New Zealanders will now realize how absurd the whole treaty settlement gravy train is.
A scam designed by lawyers and Maoris to cream off taxpayers and gullible New Zelanders forever.
lucky it is not my farm as there would be bullets flying in their direction to get their lazy dole bludging arses off the property ( Actually whatever day is dole day will mean that the protest will have to finish will it not ? )
Maoris abusing the treaty to occupy other people's property, how unusual. Perhaps, if this country opened up to more foreigners before stereotyping them as vultures and adopted more supply-side policy, than perhaps-in per capita terms-NZ would catch up to Australia in the long run. What is politically successful is typically economic madness.
I suppose these people are going to collect a welfare cheque while camped there.
This where John Key and Pita Sharples and Tariana need to front up nd tell these bludgers its all wrong.
John Key should be ordering the police to evict them immediately - this is illegal - fullstop. No room for negotiation here. If it was the white boy staging a sit in the Police would have already reacted and evicted them.
The Maori party want some respect from all of NZ they should be consistent and publicly say how wrong this is. But they won't because it is always one way traffic for them - take take take. Any sniff of breaking the law and it all becomes a cultural issue.
Will some authority expel these trespassers as readily as the hippie protest campers?
Remember - http://www.treatyofwaitangi.net.nz/AllanandSusanvsTheWaitangiTribunal.html
Paper's removed/lost, Crown changes called "clerical errors", arson of farm buildings etc, etc.
Interestingly, 13 June 2008 - United's Peter Dunne who was 1 of 3 MP's was "looking into it". What happened?
Will same happen with the Crafar Farm's??????
Maori Iwi and hapu have no credibility after this
They never play by the same rules as everyone else or in this case by the Treaty settlement rules that many Iwi have settled on.
AS soon a sthey don't get heir own way they spit the dummy.
Time is up - John Key send the police in and evict them and don't negotaite with them - they don't deserve it.
It is time now for John Key to demonstrate a leadership!
When the circus act starts to get crazy, it's only natural to send in the clowns.
Enough is enough with these guys.Key needs to do what we've paid him to do.It is time now to arrest all Maoris in question and deport them back to Taiwan no exceptions.They are the worst immigrant New Zealand has had.
The treaty does not apply to private land. If Maori want private land returned, they need to use the proceeds from a treaty settlement to purchase it..
I understand the asking price is ~$200m.
They have absolutely no claim to the land so should be removed promptly by the police.
i think the maori should at least be considered in all of this . to see if their ancestors did actually previously own this land , some research should and needs to be done. 14 , Elmo
The day of reckoning, when the rest of the world decides there's no security of title to private property in NZ, approaches. At that stage the money dries up and NZ is revelaed as the Third World pauper state it really is.
Have you considered that the maori have deferent ways , to handle this ? they are a deferent culture , and all cultures have deferent ways to handle things that depend on their lives and their ancestral land.
i wouldn't call the maori immigrants. They were originally living on the Crafar farms and have every right to have it back.
is it just me, or is sir michael looking a lot like fu manchu these days?
storm in a teacup. Private land is not available for settlements - everyone knows that, including these "occupiers". This is just another outgrowth of the rather shabby racial politics that have been stirred up again by both Maori radicals and intolerant/needlessly fearful Pakeha alike since the beginning of the year.
Maoris have different ways?
Yes, criminal ways come to them naturally.
well, thats just what i think . yes they do take they're ways alot more harsher , than others do , but others have to consider them in this situation, they have done things wrong but they still have their rights in all of this . Or is everyone taking that ?
All they have to do is post their proof online. simple test
AND WHO ARE YOU TO SAY THAT?
IF SEND BACK MAORIS TO TAIWAN, WHERE TO SEND YOU?
I AGREE WITH YOU :)
I assume Laurence has a job, is not a criminal and is not involved in the illegal occupation of somebody else's property so he is very welcome to stay.
This is why I now live in Australia.
no need to comment .
yes, i know .
14, Gonzo
With my Maori wife
I understand from an interview on the radio, this iwi is prepared to buy it back,
With the new developments and huge public protests about the sale of these particular farms perhaps it is better for Pengxin to withdraw quietly or harshly face the music of more occupations, more protests, etc.
But I do not understand why all these protests are against Pengxin and not other foreign owned including Chinese owned assets in New Zealand, such as their huge share holdings in forestry and energy which also involves land and other natural resource????????????
14 and married eh? skuxx
14 and married eh? skuxx .
In fact no-one, pakeha or maori owns the land, it was here before any of us arrived, it will still be here once we are all gone. We are only guardians of the land. Maori understand that nobody can own the land hence they see themselves as custodians for future generations. Land(grab)corp only got possession because of one ANONYMOUS complaint...
Well over half of the land in NZ was either stolen or bought for a song and so far tribunal settlements have only addressed 5% of the real value of lands acquired by the crown. BTW this is the opinion of pakeha and these occupiers have the full support of many kiwis (of many races including white guys like us!),
And Split Enz said "History never repeats"... Yeah Right
Racism - it is just below the surface and the Maoris are just as racists as anyone else.
Ancestral land that they stole off other Maori tribes?
Wonder if the Maoris of today would like land claims on them from the Morioris?
Maoris are immigrants here just like everyone else.You are originally from Taiwan and we can prove this with a DNA test.You sailed by boat here.You are nothing special just another citizen that we all have to put up with.Get off your high horse and fit in like everyone else has to.Everyone has had a gutsfull of your entitlement complex.
These people are NOT "maori".
They are lazy thieving selfish bludging dick heads.
End of story.
Maori protestors aren't capable of owning property, just occupying. Hopeless unemployable layabouts; that's all they are and ever will be.
I'd rather see Chinese protecting the Crafar farms from the Iwi.
Unemployed Maori drongos have to find some way to fill in their days, even if it means camping out in the rain.
Yet another clear and indisputable example of the ingrained racism exhibited against Asians by certain groups with NZ society that are threatened by people that clearly demonstrate strong work ethics & self reliance.
Funny how the most stupid and racist comments come from NBR readers, who think they are smarter than the rest.
Typical 1% stuff - you didn't get there on merit or intelligence, just road the coattails of your white maleness.
No problems with racist comments. Better they be expressed here to show the true colors than hidden behind hypocritical words.
As the world turns, many will find it very interesting to observe how a society regresses back to the dark ages.
As in Maoris actually thinking that others are fooled by their PR created words!
And yet, many are - judging by some of the comments on this site.
Shows the regressive genes inherent in children of peasant stock and outcasts making their comeback.
This has now turned as usual into a slanging match of which I haven't helped.I don't feel special when I post something ridiculous at 6am in the morning without a clear head.Don't spose there's any chance of keeping this debate reasoned and mature.
Ngati Rereahu must be the same tribe that believes NZ was dragged out of the seabed by Kupe?
In response to 14, Gonzo
Thank you for exisiting, you make the rest of us look good.
If I was a betting man I would lay $100 that the money Ngati Rereahu say they have to buy the farms, is to come from the money they are asking the Government/people of NZ to pay for their settlement.
And Lachwood, perhaps you’re the most ignorant one here, many whites don’t own computers either, and many are illiterate.
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