Taranaki Wha¯nui occupation

Taranaki Wh¯anui members have occupied an area of land near the Mt Crawford prison in Wellington, protesting what they claim to be zero consultation in development discussions.The occupation, made up of one large army-style tent, comes after preliminary drilling began at the Miramar Peninsula in Wellington, raising concerns among some iwi members. The Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust (PNBST), which was established to receive and manage the Treaty settlement package for Taranaki Wh¯anui, has first right of refusal over land at the old Mt Crawford prison. The surplus Corrections and Defence land sits above the site earmarked for development at Shelly Bay. Some Taranaki Wh¯anui members claim they are now being shut out of potential deals over Mt Crawford. PNBST and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MHUD) have signed a memorandum of understanding over the site to investigate whether it could be developed for housing.