PANE PANE POINT, Matakana Island - HAVE YOUR SAY

[Kiwi Frontline]

PANE PANE POINT, Matakana Island - HAVE YOUR SAY

WBOP, Tauranga ratepayers have a crisis regarding a portion of land on Matakana Island called Pane Pane Point, which was originally PURCHASED under the Public works Act 1923 by the then named Tauranga Harbour Board.

Namely for the reason to position Marine shipping Beacons there to guide ships into the Tauranga harbour. Also, it was decided that these barren sand dunes required stabilising to stop the erosion and sand sliding into the main shipping lane to the Tauranga harbour. This is now planted in Pine Trees to stabilise the sand, so this land is still being used today for what it was purchased for! 1989 the property was transferred to WBOP District Council another Public office when a restructure programme was underway.

Matakana People (Iwi) are wanting this land returned, but as per usual AT NO COST!

The Law under the Public Works Act says that it should only be returned to whom it was purchased from or the descendants of at Market value price if it is not being used for what it was purchased for, but it is still being used for that purpose .

Remember if WBOP Council gives this back to Matakana Maori as proposed [2017 CV $5.5million] your rates may possibly have to be increased to compensate for the loss of Council income from this property [Pine trees]. Not to mention this property was Purchased in 1923 under the Public Works Act so TO GIVE THIS PROPERTY AWAY IS ILLEGAL UNDER THE LAW.

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IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED THAT ANYONE, ANYWHERE IN NZ CAN FILL THE FORM BELOW IN.

So folks please help and go online and fill this simple short form in.

**** FEEDBACK CLOSES 12.00PM, MONDAY 31 AUGUST 2020.

Privacy Act 1993: The details of your submission will be publicly available as part of the decision-making process.

It is in the interest of ALL New Zealanders to have your say here >
haveyoursay.westernbay.govt.nz/panepane/survey_tools/panepane

[Kiwi Frontline]

3 x LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Weekend Sun 14/8/20

WESTERN BAY GONE ASTRAY
I find it incredible that the Mayor of Western Bay District Council thinks it’s OK to give away 172 Hectares of Matakana Island his council “received at no cost”.

True, the land was inherited by WBDC in the 1989 local government reform.
Doesn’t the Mayor and Council understand what kaitiaki means? Guardianship, in this instance for their ratepayers.

Even in that respect his council was lucky. That land was taken by the Government in 1923 for Tauranga Harbour Board purposes.

It really should have gone to Port of Tauranga (effective confiscation) or at least the BOP Regional Council  which represents a far wider populace relating back to the Harbour Board days.

Port of Tauranga approached Western Bay about acquiring the land some 15 years ago and was turned down.

Fair enough - if land taken by the Government 100 years ago is now no longer required - my understanding is that it must be offered for sale back to the 1923 owners or their descendants at today’s price.

Why hasn’t Council disclosed the current value of the land plus a lot of other key information?
B CAPAMAGIAN, The Avenues


NOT THE RIGHT THING
The Weekend Sun (July 31) published a column by Bay of Plenty Mayor Garry Webber headed ‘Panepane Purakau – It’s the right thing to do’.

We disagree.

Council staff have been consulting in secret with people on Matakana Island for four years so why is consultation with the rest of the district being rushed through in just one month during the run-up to a general election.

Council is going to hold three open days - at Opureora Marae on Matakana Island, at Omokoroa Boat Club and at Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club. The venues appear to have been chosen to make it as difficult as possible for Western Bay of Plenty residents and ratepayers to attend. None are planned for Katikati or Te Puke which are the district’s two main population centres.

If it is the right thing to do why has there been so much secrecy and so little consultation?
KEITH HAY, Secretary Katikati - Waihi Beach residents and Ratepayers Association


Weekend Sun 7/8/20

RATEPAYERS TAKE NOTICE
WBOP Tauranga ratepayers you have a crisis regarding a portion of land on Matakana Island called Pane Pane Pt which was originally purchased under the Public works Act 1923 by the then Tauranga Harbour Board. Namely for the reason to position marine shipping beacons there to guide ships into the Tauranga harbour.

Also, it was decided that these barren sand dunes required stabilising to stop the erosion and sand sliding into the main shipping lane to the Tauranga harbour.

Now also planted in Pine Trees to stabilise the sand, and all this still being used today for what it was purchased for.

In 1989 the property was transferred to WBOP District Council - another public office - when a restructure programme was underway.

Matakana People are always wanting this land returned, but as per usual at no cost.

The law under the Public Works Act says that it should only be returned to whom it was purchased from or the descendants of, if it is not being used for what it was purchased for at market value price, but it is still being used for the purpose it was purchased for.

Remember if WBOP District Council gives this back to Matakana Maori as proposed [2017 GV $5.5million] your rates will possibly have to be increased to compensate for the loss of council income from this property.

Not to mention this property was purchased in 1923 under the Public Works Act so to give this property away is illegal under the law.

Ratepayers, it is in all your best interest to vote on this issue on the council website under the heading ‘Have your say’.

haveyoursay.westernbay.govt.nz/panepane/survey_tools/panepane
C HUMPHREYS, Katikati