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The tribe negotiating a multimillion-dollar Auckland Treaty settlement has warned that building a waterfront stadium could breach its proposed deal with the Government.
Members of Ngati Whatua o Orakei yesterday told the Herald the land beneath the proposed stadium was subject to the hapu's claim.
Tribal member and former Ngati Whatua communications official Renata Blair said a stadium could breach the terms of a proposed Treaty settlement, forcing further negotiations. He would not elaborate on what those could involve.
Mr Blair criticised the Government for not consulting the tribe over the $500 million stadium.
The hapu signed an agreement in principle with the Crown in June for its outstanding Treaty claims, one of the final stages in the settlement process.
The claim covers 32,000ha of some of the country's most valuable land.
It also includes $10 million in cash, the return and co-management of parts of One Tree Hill, Mt Eden and Mt Roskill and a purchase-and-lease arrangement that will give the tribe ownership of as much as $80 million of Navy land in Devonport.
Mr Blair told Radio Waatea that while Ngati Whatua did not directly own the stadium site - it is owned by Ports of Auckland - it was former tribal land covered by the claim.
The proposed site is on top of Marsden Wharf between Bledisloe and Captain Cook wharves.
"We don't own the land ... but it is definitely under the claim of the AIP [agreement in principle] with the Government," Mr Blair said.
Mr Blair, voicing concern at the lack of consultation by the Government with Ngati Whatua, tangata whenua of wider Auckland, said the hapu would have to be consulted when the proposal reached the resource consent stage.
