Sacked by iwi, Wyllie keeps up fight for site

Former New Zealand First MP Tu Wyllie will continue to fight for Young Nicks Head even though he has lost the mandate of his iwi and the property on which the landmark sits has been sold.

Mr Wyllie filed a judicial review application with the High Court last Friday in the hope of overturning Finance Minister Michael Cullen's decision to approve the sale of Nicks Head Station, which includes the landmark, with conditions.

However, the station's Australian-based owner, Sue Gunn, signed the 660ha property over to American millionaire John Griffin for $4 million, including stock, the same day.

As part of the sale conditions, Mr Griffin will give the headland, the cliffs and the pa site back to the Government for all New Zealanders.

But some members of the Ngai Tamanuhiri iwi are still occupying Young Nicks Head to fight for the title of the landmark, which they say is sacred to Maori.

Mr Wyllie said legal advice was now being sought to look at other options, including possible Treaty of Waitangi and international court action.

"We will keep up the occupation until Mr Griffin arrives in New Zealand and provides us with the information we have requested," he said.

Meanwhile, the Ngai Tamanuhiri Whanui Trust yesterday issued a press release to advise media that Mr Wyllie is no longer the iwi's spokesman.

It said the trust was the mandated representative body for Ngai Tamanuhiri and it had resolved to build the foundations on which a positive and effective relationship with Mr Griffin could emerge.

"To achieve this, Ngai Tamanuhiri will take no further action," the statement said.

"The trust acknowledges that individuals within the iwi have the right to undertake legal action as individuals.

"Should that occur, the individuals' legal action would not represent Ngai Tamanuhiri."

The statement said Mr Wyllie lost the mandate to speak on behalf of the trust at a meeting last Wednesday night, when he and some iwi members decided to file the judicial review application with the High Court.

"Ngai Tamanuhiri will not enter into further debate on this issue. This is not our way.

"Our iwi will continue to work with the guidance of our kaumatua, kuia, whanau, hapu and iwi."

- NZPA