Special hui to vote on road deal

A special general meeting has been called by a north Taranaki iwi so the wider membership can vote on whether to back a deal negotiated over a $200 million roading project.

Te Ru¯nanga o Nga¯ti Tama have announced a hui will be held in Waitara on July 11 to give members a chance to consider and vote on whether trustees can enter into, and carry out agreements, with the NZ Transport Agency in connection with the Mt Messenger bypass project.

Previously, ru¯ nanga trustees unanimously agreed to accept a compensation and mitigation package, which includes a $7.7m payment to compensate for cultural impacts and a land swap involving a 120-hectare property in Urenui, which the agency previously bought for $1.2m.

As a requirement under the trust’s deed, 75 per cent of the iwi membership need to vote yes to backing the agreements made with the agency.

The position of the iwi should be clarified by mid-July, but any progress in the construction of the bypass is being held up by court action.

Earlier this year, an appeal was lodged in the High Court in relation to the interim decision made by the Environment Court. The appellants are Poutama Kaitiaki Charitable Trust and landowners Tony and Debbie Pascoe. The Pascoes own property which will be significantly affected should the bypass construction go ahead. A tentative date for the appeal hearing is August 24, which will be held at High Court in New Plymouth.