3 x Articles 6/3/20 - Mt Messenger, Kowhai Pa, Wilding Pines

[Kiwi Frontline]

CULTURAL RIGHTS AT HEART OF APPEAL AGAINST $200M MT MESSENGER BYPASS

Recognition of cultural rights continues to be the most debated issue in the ongoing saga of the $200m Mt Messenger bypass project.

Farmers Tony and Debbie Pascoe and the Poutama Kaitiaki Charitable Trust (Poutama) have launched a joint appeal against an interim Environment Court decision, and their main argument is that an error was made in not recognising them as tangata whenua, or kaitiaki (guardians), of their land.....

www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/119991464/cultural-rights-at-heart-of-appeal-against-200m-mt-messenger-bypass

[Kiwi Frontline]

COMMUNITY WĀNANGA AT MARLBOROUGH'S KOWHAI PĀ TO DISCUSS SITE SIGNIFICANCE

The significance of Marlborough's Kowhai Pā to iwi will be explained at a public wānanga on Saturday.

Members of Rangitāne o Wairau are threatening to occupy the site to protest what they believe are new grapevines planted over an archaeological site.

The group believe grapes planted are in a "red zone", set by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, and owner Montford Corporation does not have permission to disturb the site.

The group will hold a gathering open to the public this Saturday, with speakers explaining why the site holds such significance.....

www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/119935477/community-wnanga-at-marlboroughs-kowhai-p-to-discuss-site-significance

[Kiwi Frontline]

WILDING PINES THREATEN SIGNIFICANT SITES

An iconic area of the Waikato River under threat from wilding pines will be the site of a control project involving local iwi.

Orākei Kōrako was significant as the birthplace of the iwi, she said. "Our tupuna settled there because of the geothermal activity. So control is very significant to the iwi in a cultural sense."......

www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/taupo-times/119950192/wilding-pines-threaten-significant-sites