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Post by Kiwi Frontline on Jun 12, 2018 19:50:02 GMT 12
PURAU RESIDENTS AND RAPAKI RUNAGA AT ODDS OVER RESERVEGifting a former Maori burial ground to local runanga is an ill-considered act of privatisation, says the Purau Residents Association. There have been ongoing discussions about returning ownership and management of Purau Maori Reserve over the past century and in December last year the local hapu Ngati Wheke asked the city council to explore the option. But association spokesman Thomas Kulpe questioned whether gifting the land was the right step. While it was understandable the runanga would seek ownership, he said, it was only because the city council had “done nothing” to recognise and protect the area from inappropriate use such as eating, drinking and playing games. The whole of the Purau area had history which was not just “private to Maori” but a common, shared history, he argued. “To rob ‘Peter’ (of a public reserve) and hand it to Maori just because Ngai Tahu has a lot of political influence is not right,” said Mr Kulpe..... www.star.kiwi/2018/06/purau-residents-and-rapaki-runaga-at-odds-over-reserve/
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