PM says she will visit Ihuma¯tao

‘‘It’s been no question for me. It’s just all about timing.’’’

Jacinda Ardern

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has promised to visit Ihuma¯ tao.

It comes a day after more than 300 protesters took part in a hikoi from the land in south Auckland to Ardern’s electorate office in Mt Albert.

The group delivered an invitation to Ardern with more than 26,000 signatures for her to visit them at the site, something she has so far refused to do.

Speaking to media yesterday, Ardern said she had never ruled out visiting the land, and she would do so eventually. She said she ‘‘absolutely’’ wanted to see the land.

‘‘I have never ruled out visiting. For me it’s all about ensuring I respect the process that is under way that’s being led by Kiingitanga, but I will visit Ihuma¯ tao.

‘‘It’s been no question for me. It’s just all about timing.’’

Ardern first spoke out about the protests three days after they began, saying no work would take place at the site until a solution was found. Protesters had called on Ardern to resolve the situation but she had earlier said it would be inappropriate for the Government to intervene as the local iwi, Te Kawerau a¯ Maki, supported the development.

Ardern said she believed that the Government could try to help facilitate a solution. Mana whenua needed to be at the centre of the discussion and there was a role for the Government in helping to find a way through, she said.

‘‘We can play a role in trying to help broker a solution.’’

Yesterday, the Human Rights Commission also issued a report that aims to help resolve the issues at Ihuma¯ tao.

‘‘Our hope is that our report may assist negotiations and discussions around the country about Ihuma¯ tao by examining the relevance of New Zealand’s human rights commitments under the declaration and Te Tiriti o Waitangi to the dispute,’’ Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt said. Human rights principles support the approach being taken by mana whenua that disagreements within indigenous communities about whether free, prior and informed consent has been achieved are best resolved by the indigenous peoples, Hunt said.

‘‘The Government, for its part, needs to ensure that consultation processes support consensus building within the indigenous peoples’ community, are non-coercive and do not cause division.’’

Protests have taken place at the site for the last month after those occupying the land for the past three years were handed an eviction notice.

Protesters are trying to stop a Fletcher Building housing development at the disputed site near Auckland Airport. Fletcher bought the land off private owners the Wallace family in 2016.

Local iwi Te Kawerau a Maki reached an agreement with Fletcher that would see houses given to local Ma¯ ori in a shared equity scheme, but protesters say that iwi has no mandate over the land.

Colonial troops forced Ma¯ori from the land during the 19th century Waikato Invasion: a campaign to stamp out the Ma¯ori King movement and clear lands for European settlement.