Maoris protest about land

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32975, 22 July 1972, Page 3

Maoris protest about land

(Aew Zealand Press Association)

HAMILTON, July 21

Two Maori organisations are faking action over the Kereopa family’s land at Whale Bay, Raglan.

Members of the family have protested against their 37-acre block being zoned as a scenic reserve by the Raglan County Council. They (believe the council’s aim is to force them off their land. | “The case is typical of (what is happening to Maori jland round the country,” the chairman of the Waikato ■ Maniapoto District Maori i Council (Mr W. M. Ohia) said I today. “Both local bodies |and Government departments: are applying pressure to] j Maori land in this way.” ] ] Mr Ohia said the Kereopa case, and the issue generally,j | would be discussed at his ] ] council’s quarterly meeting this week-end. I “What often happens in: (these cases is that families: j have retained a desirable • piece of land for their own I use and enjoyment, while ; others in the vicinity have isold to various bodies and: :developers. Then that family] is penalised for holding their] (land, by the land’s being: ] forcibly taken by a local body : : or Government department. ‘ ilt’s a serious matter, and wej want it remedied.” The Kereopa case has also been taken up by the Ngai Tamatoa Council. A repre-j sentative, Mr S. Jackson, said S one reason whv the case was( particularly disturbing was; that large areas of Maori : land at Raglan had already] ;been acquired in various 1 (ways for public use. This in-; eluded a gift of the area now ■ the Konua camping ground. [The 37 acres now zoned scenic reserve by the Raglan;

■County Council was .the last piece the family owned. Mr Jackson said his council appreciated that some land must be conserved for public use, but in this case the family had already helped in providing such land, and should be entitled to retain the small area remaining in its possession.