Sharples threatens Govt over Super City

Email us photo and video from the hikoi

Maori will develop their own infrastructure within Auckland if they are not given seats on the planned Super City, says Maori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples.

Speaking after today's mass hikoi, Dr Sharples was confident that Prime Minister John Key was still open to ideas and the door was still open.

But he said if Maori seats were not accepted, Maori infrastructure would grow and Maori will have their own capacity within Auckland.

"We're now a major player in the economy in terms of labour and everything around this city.

"If we can't be included, Maori will turn in on themselves and say OK, we'll develop our own infrastructure and we'll be our own source within this city," Dr Sharples said.

He spoke to NZPA in Aotea Square, where thousands of protesters, waving Maori flags and banners, braved the rain to protest the ditching of Maori seats for the planned Super City.

Led by demonstrators performing haka, they slowly made their way to Aotea Square past hundreds of gathered onlookers along Queen Street.

Banners reading "No Super City Without Us", "Don't delete Maori seats", "John's taking our key" and "Move aside Rodney Hide, give us back our Maori pride" were thrust upward as marchers sang and shouted and walked peacefully, but with determination.

Police flanked the street and re-directed traffic away from the hikoi, and reported that protesters had been well behaved.

Kikorangi Puhipi had travelled down to Auckland from Matauri Bay in Northland.

"I think it's important for Maori to have seats in the Super City, but I'm also here for personal grief for my own land, which was taken away by the Government," Mr Puhipi told NZPA.

Rose Hollins, of Avondale, was handing out flyers encouraging people to join a rates revolt to make the Super City unworkable.

"Stuff the Super City. We don't need the fat cats, and we didn't vote for this undemocratic super rip-off," Ms Hollins said.

Aperehama Anihana, from West Auckland's Hikoi organising committee, told NZPA it was obvious why so many thousands of people were marching today.

"It's not just for Maori, it's for all the cultures that live around the Auckland area. We don't want our city to become a corporate entity," Mr Anihana said.

Pekimana Haaka, from Auckland, said it was important for Maori to be involved in how Auckland goes into the future.

"We already have a present day relationship with the council, and one of my main fears is that Maori issues will get swept under the mat.

"I feel it's racist, more on the part of the powers that be, to ignore what the Royal Commission has advised, and go ahead with their own plans for the Super City," Mr Haaka said.

The hikoi finished up in Aotea Square, where various Maori elders including Dr Sharples addressed the protesters.

"Where is John Key today? Where is Rodney Hide? Six months ago, you'd turn every street corner and there he was, in his yellow jacket. I'll tell you what, Rodney Hide is missing his jacket but he must be yellow today," Maori elder (kaumatua) Takutai Wikiriwhi said.

"I thank each and every one of you who have walked the streets to show our strength and solidarity today.

" This is not a one day battle. Our battle goes on and on and on for representation."

Mr Wikiriwhi encouraged the thousands of people gathered to join in a mass haka, which was met with much enthusiasm.

Dr Sharples congratulated the crowds for today's hikoi, and told them he thought the Government was almost ready to give in.

"Just two days ago at our last hui, the Prime Minister assured me that the door was still wide open," Dr Sharples said.

Dr Sharples said he was pleased with the turn-out, but he thought John Key had tried to play it down.

"The hikoi does make a difference, no matter what he says. I was talking to him on Saturday, and he said the door is not closed. And I believe it's not closed.

"I have put forward a strategy to him for mana whenua seats, and the possibility for involvement of all Maori. And he is going through it very seriously, and how it will affect their overall policy.

"I'm not really concerned about the number of seats. I'm really concerned that mana whenua should be represented."

- NZPA