My Account
The chair of Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust (NMST) told the Environment Court he was disappointed by the way the trust had been treated since it decided to switch support to Waste Management NZ (WM).
Mook Hohneck said there had been a willingness by everyone to come to the trust’s door and sit with them when they were opposing the landfill, which had shifted to an unwillingness when they had a “difference of opinion”.
Under cross-examination, Hohneck said the change of ownership at WM had led to a different approach by the company and he acknowledged that had WM not put more on the table than just consent conditions, Ngati Manuhiri would not have reversed its position from opposition to support.
He said it was not something done lightly and was all about getting whenua back.
“Before we came to any agreement, we put a lot of hours into discussions, contemplating in our own hui and our own tikanga to come to this position,” he said.
“Getting our whenua back – because we were robbed by everyone between the wars and now – that’s what drives Ngāti Manuhiri. So if land becomes available and all things being equal and we’re happy with the parameters and conditions, then that’s up for consideration.
“We’ve considered it and that’s our decision.”
He said he was aware of the responsibility of looking after the landfill land and its taonga species in 30 years’ time and was confident the trust could carry it out.
Referring to criticism by Omaha Marae trustees, Hohneck said “they should keep quiet and listen to those who our people support to speak for them, or at least respect the decisions that are made”.
Omaha Marae chair Annie Baines said she was shocked to hear how the NMST regarded the marae.
“We are Ngāti Manuhiri. To be a registered member of Ngāti Manuhiri, you must descend from that marae. It’s hurtful to think that we’re maybe just a number (to them) – definitely we are not. We have a voice, we have a voice and we are allowed that voice,” she said.
Baines added that NMST had done nothing to engage with them on the landfill or their decision to support it.
