Anger over Maori Super City seats leads to talk of hikoi

Naida Glavish and Grant Hawke of the Ngati Whatua O Orakei Maori Trust Board. Photo / Martin Sykes

A three-pronged hikoi into the central city could be on the cards for groups angry with the Government's decision not to include Maori seats on the proposed Auckland Council.

Yesterday, more than 300 leaders including Maori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples, Green MP Metiria Turei, and Ngati Whatua and Tainui heads gathered at Orakei Marae to form an action plan to challenge the Government's plans.

National's Georgina te Heuheu was there to listen and report on the meeting.

While many knew a march was on the cards before the hui, broad agreement hadn't been reached. During the meeting veteran protester and MP Hone Harawira was cast as the hikoi strategist.

Mr Harawira said it was ideal that any protest should occur on May 25 - the day 500 police evicted Maori from Bastion Pt in 1978.

There shouldn't be just one group of marches either, Ngati Whatua should move into the centre of town from Orakei, Tainui from South Auckland and urban Maori from the west. All should converge at the bottom of Queen St before meeting Prime Minister John Key and the Minister for Local Government, Rodney Hide, at the Town Hall.

"We've got to get serious about it. I've already checked, it's a working day. If it's a weekend all people do is wave from their windows at you."

Other forms of pressure would also be bought to bear on the Government with an iwi delegation going to Wellington. The Royal Commission on Auckland Governance recommended three specific seats - two elected by voters on the Maori roll and one appointed by mana whenua, or iwi. But the Government's rejection of that scenario in favour of an advisory committee has been heavily criticised by Maori since last week's announcement.

Yesterday, Auckland City mayor John Banks told TV3 New Zealand had moved past "apartheid". However, Dr Sharples said a space for tangata whenua at the top table wasn't special treatment, it was about recognising treaty rights.