Ihumatao essay

Last week we researched and looked into the protests happening in Ihumatao. We looked at the past of the land and the present and all write a 600 word essay. While doing my work I believed that the government wanted the land of Ihumatao but actually it was Fletcher's Residential. Here is my work.


This is my assessment that I finished on the weekend. I hope the information is correct. This is the Introduction, here it is.

I am researching about the debate between SOUL (Save Our Unique Landscape) who are the protesters to save the land of Ihumatao and the Government who want to establish houses and the land. For years the group have been fighting for Ihumatao stating it is an ancient burial site for their ancestors and for the land to be returned to mana whenua while others like Pita Turei claim it was never a burial site but a wheatfield. He says the land is destined to become a housing development. He also says that SOUL’s website has misleading or incorrect information such as history information that does not make sense and that it also does not match archaeological reports made it the past. Over 100 years ago Ihumatao was believed to be taken during the invasion of Waikato. It is said that the land used to be occupied by Waikato-Tainui, Ngati Whatua and other groups connected to Tainui. It then goes on saying that the land was acquired by Crown Grant and the sold privately to an owner believed to be of the Wallace family who descendants keep the lad as theirs for centuries.

Why does the government want the land in Ihumatao?

Me and other people in my class believe that the government wants the land at Ihumatao because they intend to expand Auckland so that they have more space to build houses and buildings.

Quick Re-Cap / Ihumatao History

1863: The land was taken from the Maori while the Waikato raid was in process. It was taken by the New Zealand Settlement act, which breaks promises made during the signing of the treaty in 1840. As a class we don’t know if Waikato actually signed the treaty so it wouldn’t apply to them but to interfere with others who possibly would have signed it.

1867: Back in 1867 the land was obtained by Crown Grant.

1869: The land was sold privately to an owner who was possibly part of the Wallace family whose descendants kept the land.

2014: After Auckland was formed, the government and the council of Auckland who decide on changes to benefit the city they purchased 32 hectares of land.

2015: Later on in the year after Auckland was formed one of the founders, Pania Newton along with whanau members of hers Were concerned saying they would oppose them taking the land.

2016: It was later on sold to a Fletcher Residential. Supporters built a whare and a pou. People were so dedicated to protect the that they even started to camp out across the road in tents, caravans and even a boat.

2019: Soul as well as supporters from Wellington took a protest to the parliament to stop them from trying to take ihumatao.

Over 20,000 people signed a petition which was delivered to the mayor of Auckland, Phil Ghoff, stating that they should get the local council and government to protect the land. In the same month people of higher up decided of ways to stop the taking of the land and to return it to the rightful owners.

Original source of information Otago Daily Times

Last updated Friday 26 July 2019

First published by RNZ

By Ezra