Iwi denies Nats’ America’s Cup claim
Bernard Orsman
Auckland iwi Ngati Whatua has denied a claim by National MPs it was blindsided by the Government on the America’s Cup village on the waterfront.
The claim came from National’s America’s Cup spokesman Gerry Brownlee and Crown-Maori Relations spokesman Chris Finlayson, who accused Economic Development Minister David Parker of not consulting the local iwi.
“It defies belief that when Mr Parker and Auckland Mayor Phil Goff agreed last weekend that the latest of their many iterations of potential America’s Cup bases was to be progressed they hadn’t consulted Ngati Whatua,” Brownlee said.
“But given the Council and Government’s track record of not informing important stakeholders of their proposals — most recently America’s Cup holders Team New Zealand two weeks ago — it could be true. However, we would have expected that the iwi be included,” he said.
Finlayson said “the Crown is obligated to negotiate redress of the Waitemata Harbour with local iwi, which means Ngati Whatua should have been one of Mr Parker’s first ports of call when dreaming up alternative America’s Cup base options. but he seems to have forgotten to include them or been unaware.
“For Ngati Whatua to be surprised to discover two 110 metre concrete structures on Wynyard Wharf in the latest proposal suggests Mr Parker isn’t across his brief and hasn’t been communicating well.”
Ngati Whatua spokesman Ngarimu Blair said he was surprised to see Finlayson, the former Minister of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, criticising the Government for its lack of consultation with iwi.
“The latest plans indicate the Minister for Economic Development, David Parker, has listened to our concerns,” said Blair, saying he is encouraged by the plans and confident all parties will reach a satisfactory solution.