Hapu¯ occupy school land to promote claim
Wind and rain have pounded their tents but have not bent the resolve of Taranaki hapu¯ members occupying land they claim is theirs.
About 50 members and supporters of Ngati Tama¯huroa me Titahi hapu¯ have occupied the former Pihama School site on State Highway 45 in coastal Taranaki since January 11, with up to 120 people some days.
The peaceful protest aimed to remind the Government and the two iwi whose areas the land lies in, that they wanted official recognition of their hapu¯ and of their historical ownership of the school site, spokesman Garth Weston said. A Titahi flag was flying atop a pole at the gateway and two laminated signs stated the reasons for the occupation.
‘‘We let the signs give the message for us. This journey started back in 2006,’’ he said.
‘‘Right now there’s negotiations taking place between the Government and our local iwi, Nga¯ ruahine and Taranaki, regarding the return of the lands within their rohe.’’
The former school was in an area bounded by the Uri and Taunga¯ tara Streams.
‘‘That’s our traditional land,’’ he said. ‘‘At this point in time, it [the school site] is land-banked but we would like the return of the whenua (land) back to the hapu¯ , that’s our kaupapa. And the second is recognition of the hapu¯ of Titahi.’’
The occupation was to end today following the hapu¯ ’s annual meeting, a meeting members hoped representatives from both iwi would attend.
This was the second time they had occupied school land to make their point.
The first was at nearby Te Kiri School, also within their traditional area, with representatives also at Pihama.
That protest started about two years after the Government closed several country schools in the area. It went on for several months and ended acrimoniously, with water and power being shut off and accusations of vandalism.
The school buildings were eventually removed in 2012.
Weston said he remembered going to Pihama School as a boy, along with his siblings.
A maize crop covers the ground now.
The hapu¯ wanted the school site returned so it could build a marae there, Darlene Weston said.
About 1935, the Titahi marae had amalgamated with nearby O¯ eo and shared the cost of building one new marae, but the hapu¯ had now grown so much a separate marae was needed, she said.