MP to visit over land bill

Labour MP Kiri Allen is to visit Waitara today to discuss the progress of legislation aimed at settling a long-running land grievance. Allen will be visiting the town’s Old Folks Association from 12pm to discuss the New Plymouth District Council (Waitara Land) Bill. The legislation, which affects more than 700 people, aims to settle ownership of land confiscated in 1865 by the Crown from the Te A¯ tiawa iwi and two hapu¯ groups. If passed, it would make 780 leasehold properties freehold, while 60 hectares of land would be given back to Te A¯ tiawa. Allen, who was elected to parliament via the Labour list at the last election, wants to hear from as many leaseholders as possible during her visit. The bill, which is about to undergo its third reading, has proved controversial, with some residents claiming they have been left out of the discussions and face paying huge sums for the land on which their homes sit. About 20 of them attended a meeting in the association building on Wednesday night to discuss their concerns. Bill Simpson, who is petitioning to challenge the bill, said the land he lives on was offered to him in 1992, when the bill was first introduced, for $5600.26, but was now set to cost him $130,000. ‘‘It’s basically like we’re up against a wall,’’ Simpson said of his family’s situation. However, Jonathan Young, the MP in charge of the bill, has said the rights of leaseholders had been protected and the final version was more favourable to them.