Protesters dig in over disputed land
One of the leaders of a South Auckland land protest says she’s prepared to die for the cause.
Pania Newton, 28, is among the people involved with the Save Our Unique Landscape (SOUL) campaign group.
Its members are fighting to stop a planned residential housing development near the protected O¯ tuataua Stonefields reserve at Ihuma¯ tao in Ma¯ ngere from going ahead.
Fletcher Residential wants to build more than 450 houses on the land, which the protesters say is ‘‘sacred’’ and should be preserved for future generations.
The battle has been taken to the Environment Court and a decision is expected soon.
Newton, who has extensive family ties to the area, says she’s one of about 15 people living on the land fulltime.
The campaigners have created a ‘‘kaitiaki village’’ at the end of Ihuma¯ tao Quarry Rd.
They’ve installed vegetable gardens, converted several buildings so they’re usable, and keep chickens for eggs and meat.
‘‘We sleep in cabins and in the farmer’s house ... and the brick house [up the hill],’’ Newton says. ‘‘I stay up there or down here. ‘‘I’ll pitch up a tent or live in my car. I just move around wherever I feel like it.’’
Newton says members of her family including her father, uncle, and cousins have also been involved in the protest.
‘‘They’re there for the ‘‘common cause’’ of seeing the land protected and preserved, she says.
Newton had recently completed a law degree and was preparing to start practicing law when she got involved with the campaign at Ihuma¯ tao.
Newton says she’s been living at Ihuma¯tao for two years this November and has been involved with the campaign for about four years.
She says if the Environment Court rules in favour of the protesters, she expects Fletcher will appeal the decision.
But if the court rules in favour of the company, she plans to stay on the land.
‘‘We will remain here until the bulldozers come. I’ve already planned to sacrifice my life for this campaign.
‘‘I’m willing to die for it. ‘‘It’s so important to my identity and to the history of our nation and my nieces and nephews.’’
It will take ‘‘people power’’ to win the fight to protect Ihuma¯ tao, she says.
‘‘The goal is to preserve the land for all New Zealanders to enjoy.’’
DEVELOPER ‘WORKING WITH IWI’
A spokeswoman for Fletcher Residential says the company is working closely with local iwi on the housing project and has tried ‘‘repeatedly’’ to engage in constructive dialogue with SOUL’s representatives. ‘‘We are also in continual dialogue with the people who have been mandated by local iwi to represent them.
‘‘These conversations have been constructive, and have resulted in significant changes to the original design.
‘‘We have met SOUL previously and are happy to meet them again for constructive discussions. The dialogue has not been constructive, with the protesters expecting solutions which are not realistic.’’
The spokeswoman says the company can’t comment on the Environment Court process as it’s still under way.