The struggle for the land continues

Mana (Auckland), Volume 2, Issue 4, 18 May 1978, Page 1

The struggle for the land continues

Thursday, 4th May 1978, could well have been one of the great days for Pakeha reactionaries. In Hamilton, 17 patriots were to appear in the Magistrate’s Court charged with wilfully trespassing on the Raglan Golf Course. That same day Joe Hawke and Roger Rameka were due to appear in the Supreme Court, Auckland, for defying the injunction and the Court’s order to leave Bastion Point. These reactionaries must have been bitterly disappointed with the results. Instead of the day being a win for Pakeha racism the day was a clear moral victory for Maori strength and determination.

In Auckland the Supreme Court did not order the arrest of Hawke and Rameka as had been generally anticipated. The Court delayed the threatended arrest for 24 hours to Friday May 5 although neither Joe or Roger appeared. The following day. a further stay of the injunction was granted to allow discussions between Ngati Whatua spokespeople and the Bastion Point leaders to take place over the weekend. As the result of those further discussions between Ngati Whatua spokespeople and the Bastion Point leaders to take place over the weekend. As the result of those further discussions Joe Hawke and Roger Rameka left Bastion Point accompanied by two ’real' elders of Ngati Whatua. The decision to leave was taken because it seemed likely that the split in Ngati Whatua ranks could be healed. If this hope is realised it will allow them to make a unified approach to the Government. This would nullify the Government’s skilfull attempts to exploit divisions among Ngati Whatua and prevent it from being able to negotiate solely with a carefully

The struggle thus enters a new phase. If Ngati Whatua can make a joint approach to the Government and if the Government is prepared to take a flexible responsible attitude during the coming negotiations Bastion Point can still be resolved with honour on both sides. As we went to press the two sides of Ngati Whatua seemed to be in close accord but the Government’s public pronouncements showed no indication that they will take a more flexible attitude and gave no indication that they will take a more responsible attitude in future negotiations. Support is, therefore, still absolutely vital for this occupation of ancestral lands which has now gone on for 500 days.

The Action Committee is presently showing that it wants to participate in discussions to iron out the differences within the tribe and so be part of working out a common programme to be taken to government. From the very beginning it has insisted that a lasting and honourable settlement of this issue is only possible if the government opens serious negotiations with all sections of Ngati Whatua of Tamaki, and ends its tactic of trying to divide and undermine our people. Some of the authorities are now trying to score points off the Action Committee and thoss occupying Bastion Point. We are interpreting this as a cheap political manouevre, the sort we have become used to uring our sixteen month long occupation

of Bastion Point. As soon as Joe Hawke and Roger Rameka left the land, the Prime Minister and Minister of Lands rushed into print to say that they would not tolerate the continuation of the land occupation and to assert that they were only prepared to discuss “details” of the latest proposals, rather than renegotiate them. Mr Muldoon claimed these proposals were so generous that they went well beyond what the Ngati Whatua of Tamaki could legitimately demand. And then Justice Speight tried to claim that the courts were totally independent of government and that the government had not backed off on this issue. Ourattitude is that we will first endeavour to build unity among

our people and work out a common platform for presentation to government. We will then see what the government is prepared to negotiate and what it isn’t prepared to negotiate. One thing is certain: the government will look very bad indeed if it throws out any proposals which our people make as a united body. A Special Appeal We sincerely thank all those who have rallied to support our stand over the last few weeks. Without that support it would have been impossible to maintain our stand. But we also wish to warn all our supporters that this issue is still far from resolved, and that discussions with our elders are only just beginning. Even now, the government could try to wreck

these discussions. The utmost vigilance is needed. In particular, we make a special appeal to all those people who have seen the divisions among our people as the reason why they couldn't take a stand on the Bastion Point issue. Now is the time for you to give your full support to the growth of unity among the Ngati Whatua of Tamaki to the common platform we hope will emerge from this unity; to tell the government to reach a just settlement with all the tribal group and - stop its threats to evict the occupiers of Bastion Point. How You Can Help * Send a telegram to the government and to the Action Committee putting your support behind the discussions which are now in progress, and demand that the government do nothing to upset them. * If there is another eviction threat, come to Bastion Point and show your support for our stand. * Organise a meeting on your job, in your church or school, etc., to discuss ways of supporting our stand at Bastion Point. We can provide speakers for these meetings. * Help distribute this issue of Takaparawha. * Send donations, food, blankets, etc. Contact us at phone 548-440, 581-550, or 768-990 for further information. Write to the Orakei Maori Committee Action Group, P.O. Box 18219, Glen Innes.