Iwi warn over golf course

Horowhenua iwi have warned a group wanting to develop a golf course near the hau River of wāhi tapu in the area, with a kaitiaki giving specific examples of the dangers involved.

The developers say they have listened to the concerns, but the size of the site and the style of course they want to build only gives so much wriggle room.

Yesterday was the final day of a hearing concerning environmental consents that Xero cofounder Hamish Edwards and his company Grenadier Ltd need to enable the construction of an 18-hole links golf course adjacent to the hau River.

The course, which Edwards says will be priced affordably and be as eco-friendly as possible, would be named Douglas Links Golf Course and feature on-site accommodation.

Some consents have already been granted by Horowhenua District Council through a nonnotified process.

Much of yesterday involved Ngāti Tukorehe and Muaūpoko giving evidence, often about wāhi tapu in the area of the proposed course.

An especially significant site is Tirotiro Whetū, a known site of occupation for Māori in the area.

Ngāti Tukorehe kaitiaki Patrick Seymour, whose family have lived on the whenua near the proposed course since the early 1800s, said Tirotiro Whetū was a well-known wāhi tapu.

A Pākehā man who moved there in the 1870s with his family broke the tapu, with two of his daughters later drowning.

‘‘This came about through broken tapu,’’ Seymour said.

‘‘The area is so sacred and tapu, it cannot be disturbed.’’

Lindsay Poutama of Ngāti Tukorehe said shell middens in the area showed Tirotiro Whetū was a significant pā of importance to the iwi.

Ngāti Tukorehe had not been part of true consultation and cooperation with Grenadier, which impacted their ability to exercise kaitiakitanga and manaakitanga, he said.

Dean Wilson, who spoke for Muaūpoko, said the iwi was currently against the proposed course, but was working with Grenadier to create a memorandum of understanding. ¯O

Muaūpoko had a strong connection to the whenua near the

hau River and the dunes along the coast, with ō the iwi burying their dead along the dunes.

Grenadier’s counsel, John Maassen, said he wanted some time before filing a right of reply so more conversations could be had with tangata whenua.

But a links course needed to run along coastlines, while the plot of land meant changing course design was difficult.

‘‘We are not proposing significant changes to the hole design.’’

‘‘The area is so sacred and tapu, it cannot be disturbed.’’ Patrick Seymour

Ngāti Tukorehe kaitiaki