Jurisdiction challenged

Press, 10 March 1988, Page 18

Jurisdiction challenged

PA Tauranga A Maori Land Court sitting in Tauranga adjourned suddenly on Tuesday when a Maori elder challenged the Court’s jurisdiction to deal with his land. Judge Cull adjourned the : sitting and walked from the courtroom as a leading land rights proponent, Mr Matiu Tarawa, began reading out a proclamation. The document “revokes” the land court jurisdiction over his land on Matakana Island, and also the Valuation of Land Act, 1951, and the Rating Act, 1967, on the ground they are in breach of the principles of the Treaty of

Waitangi. Mr Tarawa appeared as chairman of the Wharekawa Lands Committee, a tribal family trust, in relation to an application by the Tauranga County Council for an order for arrears of rates. The council also applied to the Court to appoint trustees! “to manage and utilise the land to advantage in I the interest of all the owners . . .” Judge Cull adjourned the case to the next sitting after Mr Tarawa refused to heed his instruction not to read his proclamation. A copy of thje documents was accepted by Judge Cull before he walked out of the courtroom.