Not surprisingly the proposal in the Auckland draft
unitary plan requiring Auckland property owners to seek iwi approval to
work on what is a vast area covering some 3600 sites of "value to mana
whenua" has come under a lot of criticism, from private property owners.
Most landowners can see the proposal for what it is: yet another money making
scheme based on Maori privilege.
In reply to that attention the Maori Party put out a
press release which included this comment from Co-leader Tariana Turia, “this
is also a Treaty issue. It's about tangata whenua having a right to
participate in decision making over our natural resources…
