Addressing historical greviances
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
Local Māori will soon be able to return to live on their customary land.
Waimakariri District Council chief executive Jeff Millward says the proposed Waimakariri District Plan, which was notified in September 2021, includes special purpose zoning for Māori Reserve 873, between Kaiapoi and Rangiora.
This included allowing for up to seven houses on a four hectare section.
These have been incorporated into the draft Greater Christchurch Spatial Plan, which has recognised the need for infrastructure investment for kāinga nohoanga (places of residence) across the Greater Christchurch area.
"Historically they have been prevented from living on their own land and growing crops for mahinga kai," Millward said.
The National Policy Statement on Urban Development stated that well-functioning urban environments needed to have a variety of homes, and this included enabling Māori to express their cultural traditions and norms.
Māori Reserve 873, which included the kāinga (village) of Tuahiwi and the surrounding rural area, was set aside by the Crown in 1848 as a kāinga nohoanga.
The 1868 Native Land Court defined Ngāi Tahu mahinga kai and whānau rights.
But subsequent territorial authorities, including the Waimakariri District Council, which was established in 1989, had overlooked the history and introduced rural zoning rules and applied them to Māori Reserve 873.
Most recently, about 2005, the Waimakariri District Council changed the rural zoning for the reserve to 10 acres without consulting with the rūnanga.
This was unworkable as properties were already much smaller and had multiple houses on them.
The land grievances were due in part to different cultural understandings and the complexity of Māori ownership.
Māori practised Kaitiakitanga (stewardship) where resources including land were looked after by the hapū for the next generation.
The consequence has seen Māori lose the ability to use the land for mahinga kai and whānau have been unable to live on the land.
Comment was sought from Ngāi Tūāhuriri.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
Poll: Is dumping an issue in your neighbourhood?
There's nothing worse than strolling around the streets in your neighbourhood and seeing dumped rubbish.
Have you noticed this in your area? What could we do to combat this around the country?
-
43.2% Yes, I've seen some illegal dumping
-
56.1% No, our neighbourhood is pretty good
-
0.7% Other - I'll share below
Can you crack Today’s neighbourhood conundrum?
Without a bridle or a saddle, across a thing, I ride a-straddle. And those I ride, by help of me, though almost blind, are made to see. What am I?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
This one was sent in by your fellow neighbour, can you figure it out?
What is first white then red and the plumper it gets the more the old lady likes it?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
Loading…
