Maori claim shoreline in Bay of Islands

The entire Bay of Islands foreshore and seabed and half of Whangarei Harbour are under claim by Northland Maori.

The two claims, to more than 2 million hectares of prime coastline and seabed, were lodged in the Maori Land Court in the past two months, after the Government moved to legislate ownership of the foreshore and seabed.

But claimants say public access will be guaranteed if the court grants them customary title over the Bay of Islands.

Ngati Kuta, a hapu of Ngapuhi based at Rawhiti, lodged a claim six weeks ago for 1,350,380ha, encompassing every beach, island and all the seabed in the Bay of Islands.

Meanwhile, the Ruakaka-based Takahiwai Marae has claimed 660,000ha of seabed and 89.2km of coastline in the Whangarei Harbour.

Ngati Kuta claimant Robert Willoughby, one of three who lodged the claim on behalf of the hapu, said the customary title claim for 117.5km of coastline stretched from Whangaroa Harbour in the north to Whangaruru in the south.

"We are claiming our total rohe, our traditional boundaries. We feel we are the kaitiaki [guardians] of that area."

Should the claim be successful, public access to the Bay of Islands foreshore and seabed was still guaranteed, he said.

The claims are in response to the Government proposal to introduce legislation in March to put the foreshore and seabed into the public domain.

- NZPA