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The Government has tried to deflect claims it buckled under pressure from a Maori occupation by highlighting the land protest leader's links with the National Party.
State-owned Enterprises Minister Trevor Mallard yesterday all but ruled out the sale of disputed Crown-owned land at Whenuakite in the Coromandel.
Hauraki Maori say the land will form part of an imminent Treaty of Waitangi claim.
Landcorp had put the $10 million block up for sale, but it has been put on hold while the Government reviews the state farming agency's sales policy relating to "sensitive" land.
National deputy leader Bill English today questioned why the Office of Treaty Settlements (OTS) had turned down first option to buy the land, only for the Government to halt the sale due to a prospective treaty claim.
He accused the Government of doing a "u-turn" under pressure from the occupation.
But the move backfired when Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen revealed National had links with the occupation leader, Hauraki spokesman John McEnteer.
"The person who is leading the occupation at Whenuakite is the person nominated by the National Party to be a member of the Boundaries Commission."
The Boundaries Commission is responsible for setting electoral boundaries.
In response to Mr English's question, Treaty Negotiations Minister Mark Burton said the OTS had followed the same policy in deciding whether to purchase land as it had when National was in government in the 1990s.
He said the Government was not yet in treaty negotiations with Hauraki Maori, but once it was, Whenuakite Station was "potentially available" for a settlement.
Maori Party MP Hone Harawira called on Mr Burton to apologise for the "monstrous cock-up" in communication between government agencies that had forced the occupation.
But Mr Burton said he did not accept Mr Harawira's assertions.
On Monday Mr Mallard will take a paper to Cabinet confirming Landcorp's decision yesterday to park the sale of Whenuakite Station as well as land at Rangiputa in Northland.
Yesterday he said a new policy relating to Landcorp sales would force the agency to consider any non-commercial values before deciding to put land on the open market.
These could include heritage, conservation or recreational values.
The Government did not wish to see prime coastal land sold to the highest bidder -- often foreigners -- to be carved up into subdivisions.
After meeting Maori groups last night, Mr Burton promised full consultation with Hauraki and Tainui Maori before any further steps were taken in relation to the land at Whenuakite.
The agreement is expected to put an end to the land occupation and legal action, but some protesters remained on the site today.
Chairman of the umbrella group Tainui Waka Alliance, Harry Mikaere, who is of Hauraki iwi, said he was pleased with the outcome and would consult today with his people.
- NZPA
