Motorway clash predicted

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34089, 28 February 1976, Page 9

Motorway clash predicted

; (X Z. Pres« AsAortarion) WELLINGTON.

More than 1000 people might force a confrontation with the police and traffic officers hyi inarching on to the Wellington Motorway. Mr Nathan Dun Mihaka said. Mr Mihaka. who prefers to( be known as Te Ringa Mangu' Mihaka, said he would inform! transport officials that more than 1000 people were expected to join the third land march at the start of] i the motorway. > The march, which Mrj Mihaka will lead, is planned! To start from Parliament! Buildings soon and will head, for' Kawhia. west of Tej ! Awamutu, by coastal, roads > before returning on an inland! route. It is intended to use! I the motorway on the return I i journey only. I “The authorities want us! I to go on the motorway to I start our march — then they can try and stop us,” said Mr Mihaka. “But we will j wait till the heme leg far the i meeting with them.” 1 The leader of the first land

(march, Mrs Whina Cooper. I was held in respect and (admiration by most Maori

'people, and was still con-] sidered to be the official; ‘leader of rhe Te Matakite O Aotearoa movement. Mr Tim I Smith said in Tauranga. Mr Smith) of. Bethlehem.; Tauranga. became second! (vice-president of the group! after the move to dismiss! (Mrs Cooper from the leader-! I ship of Te Matakite by what; ;Mr Smith described as a , “splinter faction” at Auckj land last week-end. “Now is the time for those who do respect and support Mrs Cooper to join her organisation to demonstrate ithat support,” he said, j Through Mrs Cooper’s J organisation of the first IjMaori land march she had ; won the admiration of Maori I (and European people alike, ijand had drawn attention to, ij Maori fears for the future l! ownership of their land. ■I It was possible that steps il toward a reconciliation would jbe initiated at the next Te ; I Matakite meeting, planned >j for Ngaruawahia. Representatives of the Maori Council ijmight also be present, as II they had expressed an intersiest in examining Maori land problems with the moveci ment, he eaid. )