Tree protesters ‘woke, entitled’
Former MP Tau Henare says behaviour ‘appalling’
Those protesting plans to remove hundreds of exotic trees from an Auckland maunga have been labelled “woke, entitled Pākehā” during a hui.
The Tūpuna Maunga Authority (TMA), which co-governs the city’s 14 tūpuna maunga plans to remove 345 exotic trees from wairaka/Mt Albert and plant 13,000 natives as part of a long-term restoration project.
But protesters have occupied the maunga since November 11, preventing contractors from starting what was meant to be a month-long job.
The authority — established after the maunga were transferred to mana whenua in a 2014 Treaty settlement — yesterday held a hui near the summit to address concerns, drawing about 200 people.
TMA operations manager Nick Turoa noted few places were left where Māori culture has not been destroyed or modified. “This is about restoring significance of mana whenua to these sites.”
Protester Lisa Prager acknowledged the “pain of colonialism” but that “we are all human”.
“This broad stroke, this annihilation, this utu on the exotics, this does not serve us as a people.”
Fellow protester Suala Wilson said she moved to New Zealand from Samoa 50 years ago but felt like she was “mana whenua”.
“My waka was Air New Zealand.”
Independent Māori Statutory Board (IMSB) deputy chair and former MP Tau Henare said the board “100 per cent” supported the TMA’s plans, which were about more than trees, but about mana.
“What I find personally appalling behaviour is after all the work with the Government, council, Treaty settlement, consultation, to come here this morning and feel like a f****** criminal.”
He said those protesting were a “bunch of woke, entitled Pākehā”.
Māngere arborist Zane Wedding said people simply claiming mana whenua was “insulting”.
“I am Ngāti Pikiao, but I am not mana whenua. My mum fought for the idea to exist, now a whole heap of people are claiming it.”
Wedding said the TMA’s plans to restore mana to the city’s maunga was “empowering”.
He applauded Pākehā in support. “You represent the future of New Zealand, the ngāhere [forest] will represent the new New Zealand, not these stains of colonial past.”
He also questioned why the group was not protesting other trees being felled across the city on private land.
“But when iwi do it, all of a sudden everyone is triggered.”
A young Māori woman, holding her baby daughter, said through tears the protesters, whether intentionally or not, were “unlocking racism”.
“We hear about the lizards and the trees — think about the slightly bigger process.”
Speaker Charmaine Pountney said it was important for Pākehā to stand up and be good Treaty partners.
“It is time for Pākehā to trust tāngata whenua. The authority is about both parties coming together — what was promised in the Treaty. We are here as Treaty supporters.”
Protest leader Anna Radford said it was not an easy decision to not attend the hui.
She said they supported the long-term restoration plans, but were concerned about how all 345 exotic trees were to come down at once.
When asked about the hurt their protest had been causing Māori, Radford said that was never the intention. “The TMA exists to address terrible past, but also has a responsibility for benefit of all people.”
TMA chair Paul Majurey said he was “saddened” most protesters did not attend but hoped to find a way forward.
But when iwi [fell trees], everyone is triggered.
Zane Wedding