Land practices wrong

Perhaps the Advocate would consider embarking on some research into schools, particularly in the North (and the rest of NZ), that have been closed over the past decades.

How many of these were originally designated native Māori Schools? How many of these schools were gifted the land by iwi Māori for the purpose of education? How many of these sites were given (not sold) back to iwi Māori when they closed?

The original Native Schools Act in 1870 required the local iwi to provide land for the school to the then Education Department and half the cost of the building plus some payment towards the staff and the junior assistants who were trained in these schools.

It is wrong for the government of the day to refuse to return gifted land back to iwi.

When the native school at Ngararatunua closed, the gifted land was offered back to the hapū but for a price that no one could afford. How many of present day NZ are aware of these (and many more) dodgy practices?

Since 1841, governments have been gifted or confiscated land for Crown entities, e.g. railway, schools hospitals etc, have breached the Treaty of Waitangi, rated Māori rich in land assets but poor in finance off their land, and refused to hand land back, continually selling it off to private ownership.

It is indeed sad that we have the ACT and NZ First parties in 2024, spreading misinformation to those New Zealanders who were never taught NZ history, that iwi Māori are advantaged in some way. Land then gifted for specific purposes at no cost to governments is now worth millions and not returned when surplus to requirement.

I thoroughly support the hapū action of occupation in Towai. Kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui, koutou! E tu! Marie Kaire

Ngararatunua