Despite the Government saying it won't intervene, Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson has vowed to continue pressing Ministers on the issue. Photo / Mark Mitchell.
Despite the Government saying it won't intervene, Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson has vowed to continue pressing Ministers on the issue. Photo / Mark Mitchell.
The Government will not intervene in the Ihumātao stoush as it is not its place to get involved in the saga, according to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
This comes as hundreds have turned out across the country to protest a housing development being built at Ihumātao, near the sacred Ōtuataua Stonefields Reserve, in Auckland.
Despite the Government saying it won't intervene, Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson has vowed to continue pressing Ministers on the issue.
She told Parliament today that what is happening at Ihumātao was a "continuation of colonisation".
Six people have been arrested at the site, close to Auckland Airport, and hundreds turned up outside of Parliament this afternoon to protest.
One of the women was released with a pre-charge warning while a 28-year-old female was charged with obstructing police and appeared in the Manukau District Court.
Shortly after midday a male was arrested and given a verbal warning for trespass before being released.
"This is not a situation that Police wants to find itself in, however we have a duty to uphold the law," a statement said.
In a statement, Amnesty International said it would be sending human rights observers to the site tomorrow to monitor protests.
"Everyone has the right to peaceful assembly, to peaceful protests, and to freedom of expression," Amnesty New Zealand's National Director Meg de Ronde said.
"We will be documenting what we see to share with the wider public, law enforcement agencies and policymakers."
Māori Crown Relations Minister Kelvin Davis said he spoke with the tangata whenua – Te Kawerau a Maki.
He said no one has fought harder for that land and publically asserted his support for tangata whenua – "those who were part of the Treaty settlement".
But he said it was not the Government's place to intervene.
"That would disrespect the rangatiratanga of Kawerau a Maki. This is their land, their assets and their plan for their people."
Speaking to media, PM Jacinda Ardern said although the Government would not intervene "it was falling on the side of local iwi and their position". Photo / Mark Mitchell
Speaking to media, Ardern said although the Government would not intervene "it was falling on the side of local iwi and their position".
"They are not the ones leading the protest here, so if we come in over the top it really would be undermining the local iwi in this case."
Ardern said she had met with Davidson in the past to talk about the issue.
Davidson told media before going into the House that she would keep talking with Ministers about the issue.
But her priority was to de-escalate the situation and help to maintain peace.
"There is definitely a role for the Government to play," she said, but would not pre-empt what that role might look like.
