‘Racism’ forces station sale
The Chinese owner of a Wairarapa sheep station says he is selling up because his family and staff were targeted with racist abuse.
Hong-Kong based Eric Chun Yu Wong has been embroiled in a dispute with officials over public access to the sprawling $3.3 million Kawakawa Station, at Cape Palliser.
When the stoush with the Walking Access Commission became public last year, Wong says there was a backlash and his unnamed farm managers quit.
‘‘Our accommodation bookings dropped off. Our farm managers were called terrible names (all racist terms that we will not repeat) and harassed in their community,’’ Wong said in a written statement.
‘‘We felt that the hostile public comments directed at us as a result of the commission’s publicity were racist and xenophobic at its worst.’’
When mediation between the commission and the Wongs failed in December, they decided to sell to a Kiwi buyer. ‘‘The decision to sell Kawakawa Station was not an easy one.’’
Wong is backed by Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa kauma tua Sir Kim Workman who said the impact of the commission’s conduct was ‘‘incendiary’’.
‘‘Xenophobia emerged in full flight. Mr Wong became a foreign demon who was interfering with the rights of good old Kiwis. It adversely affected their walking tour business, and the then managers were openly referred to as ‘chink-lovers’. They resigned, and the backlash contributed to Mr Wong’s decision to sell the farm’,’’ he said.
Wong and his family flew to Wellington for the mediation, which he described as ‘‘a farce’’. The row reached the High Court, with a judge ordering Wong and the commission into arbitration before the sale goes through in June.
Both sides are deadlocked over access to a forest hut and tramping route.
Wong bought the station in 2015. The Overseas Investment Office approved the sale – signed off by National government ministers – but imposed conditions around tramping access.
Those conditions said the new owner must put in place access to the Aorangi Forest, as recommended by the commission. It is home to the Putangirua Pinnacles, the eerie earth pillars featured in scenes in the film The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
Wong says the farm does allow access – via the Otakaha Stream to the Aorangi Forest Park – but only with permission.
‘‘Remoteness and lack of cellphone coverage means rescue of stranded trampers is usually undertaken by our farm managers, so they need to know who is coming and when.
‘‘Our telephone number is in the Department of Conservation publicity for Kawakawa Hut, directing people wishing to access the hut to call for permission,’’ Wong said.
‘‘The station usually says yes, subject to obvious lambing or mustering considerations. We manage this access in a way that the local tangata whenua consider is consistent with tikanga Ma¯ ori for access along the river.’’
The Kawakawa 1D2 Trust joined the Wongs in court action, arguing there was inadequate consultation with local iwi.
Workman called for calm. ‘‘This latest publicity has the potential to unleash yet another round of racism and hatred.’’
He accused the commission of ignoring tangata whenua, who are concerned about the desecration of wa¯ hi tapu.
Commission chief executive Ric Cullinane said in a statement: ‘‘The Overseas Investment Act allows overseas buyers to invest in New Zealand and to provide real benefits, including public access, for all who live here.
‘‘While I am not aware of any racism or xenophobia relating to the Kawakawa Station owners, we would be very disappointed if these allegations are true because we need to build and maintain positive working relationships with overseas investors in order to provide better access to the outdoors for everyone.’’
But Workman says he raised the issue of xenophobia in three letters, in a paper presented to the mediation meeting, and in his affidavit to the High Court in February.