Treaty office orders farm occupiers to leave

The Office of Treaty Settlements has asked a group of Northland Maori to leave a farm property they have been occupying for 30 days.

Last night members of the Ngati Aukiwa hapu were meeting authorities in a bid to resolve the issue. Police have not been involved at this stage.

Hapu members have been told their occupation of shearers' quarters on Stony Creek Station, south of Mangonui, is illegal and they should leave the farm immediately.

The occupiers say they are there lawfully under a sovereign right and were yesterday staying put.

They dispute the office's recognition of local trust board Ngatikahu ki Whangaroa's mandate to negotiate with the Crown over historical land claims in the area.

Negotiations began last year on claims that include the future of the 2275ha Stony Creek Station, at present carrying 1500 cattle and 5000 sheep.

The property was landbanked by the settlements office in 1995 for potential use in a treaty claim settlement.

Ngati Aukiwa say the land remains subject to unextinguished native aboriginal title, but the office says it holds title to the property on behalf of the Crown.