40 years on Bastion Point
Ma¯ori, Govt and police to meet on landmark protest’s 40th anniversary
Protesters, police and the Government were at the heart of the dispute at Takaparawhau/Bastion Point 40 years ago and today the three parties will meet at the site for commemorative events.
On May 25, 1978, a massed force of police mounted Operation Bastion to clear the disputed site, overlooking Auckland’s Waitemata¯ Harbour at ra¯kei, of protesters.
They had occupied it since January 5 the previous year, 506 days, in pursuit of Nga¯ti Wha¯tua
ra¯kei land claims against the Government and to foil the plans of Prime Minister Rob Muldoon’s administration to build expensive housing at Bastion Point.
About 500 policemen — later estimates say 600 — were acting on behalf of the Government and its commissioner of Crown lands in Auckland, George McMillan, who spoke to the protesters through a loudhailer.
“This is Crown land,” he declared. After the protesters defied his trespass warnings, police began removing and arresting them. Some 220 people were arrested.
The occupation, which followed the 1975 Land March, was a turning point in the Ma¯ori land claims movement, partly because of the TV news images of protesters being dragged off the site by police.
HFor a video go to nzherald.co.nz
Today, following Waitangi Tribunal investigations, some land in the area has been returned to its former owners, Nga¯ti Wha¯tua ra¯kei, and other blocks have been set aside as reserves managed by representatives of the hapu¯ and Auckland Council.
Before the 1977-78 occupation the hapu¯ had become virtually landless. Now, following major Treaty of Waitangi settlements with the Government, the hapu¯ has become a significant Auckland landowner.
Nga¯ti Wha¯tua ra¯kei Trust is or- ganising public commemorative events today to honour the protesters, foster reconciliation and, the trust says, to reaffirm the hapu¯’s footprint on the land in Auckland.
“We hope to bring together those that were arrested — representatives of the Crown, the police, as well as many prominent Ma¯ori, Pa¯keha¯ and Pacific Islanders who played a role in supporting the Bastion Point occupation,” said Marama Royal, the chairwoman of the hapu¯ trust board.
The police said a number of staff would attend both the dawn service at Takaparawhau/Bastion Point and the commemoration at ra¯kei Marae.
Kelvin Davis, the Minister for Crown/Ma¯ori Relations, will represent the Government.
Nga¯ti Wha¯tua said Joe Hawke, now 78, who led the occupation, will take part too.
“I went on to the point, not to invite an arrest, but to arrest a wrong,” Hawke said, “and 40 years on, all of Nga¯ti Wha¯tua are benefiting from that stand”.