A Cause Celebre; Finding Tapu Places On Pakeha Land

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Where I come from there's a block of land called Parakerake which was sold by two tupuna vendors in 1868 but the title didn't change hands until 1872 because it was subject to the "Fraud Preventions Act." Only two of the 10 tupuna on the Crown grant "got the money" according to the son of one of them. Anyway once a Mr. Corchrane the purchaser got the title (the Crown's Treaty right of prevention was waived at the time) he sold it. This whenua changed hands many times until "Carrington Farms Ltd" an American company bought it and developed a farm, tourist hotel, golf course, vinyard complete with a winery and continued with the subdivisions begun by the previous owners. What was once a gum field dug over by Maori and Dalmation whanau including mine. It was also unfenced winter grazing for stock.

However, when the owners began to subdivide a portion for 12 house sites overlooking Karikari Beach and the Puheke wetland, the Runanga of Ngati Kahu objected on the grounds that there was a wahi tapu called Te Ana O Taite which they claimed was a cavern under the said subdivision and they produced a map which showed it allegedly at least half a kilometre long. Firstly, the tangata whenua do not have a tupuna by that name. The correct name is Taitehe. Secondly the said ana was a crevice in the bank below the subdivision. This whole and utter nonsence became a cause celebre for the Runanga and its leader. Objections were made before the Far North District Council. The non-notifiable consent was upheld. Then it went to the Environment Court and again was upheld. An attempt to apply for a High Court injunction against the subdivision was again dismissed. The aggrieved appelants are now seeking a High Court hearing on the matter having wasted the iwi's resources, money and time on an ego trip. The korero now prevalent is that the Runanga is trying to get back Parakerake Block under its Treaty claims.

The fact is that there are many former burial grounds on the Karikari Peninsular mainly in the many sand dunes on land that is under Maori, Crown and general title. As Christianity encroached on our burial customs tohunga and clergy lifted the tapu on these places and we developed church style cementaries. Many of these sand burial places are mentioned in Native Land Court records. Also the use of iron digging tools allowed us to dig through the clay pan.

The "Ana O Taitehe" controversy is nothing but hypocracy and misuse of tikanga by people who are not tangata whenua. There was a good case for objecting to the said subdivision based on the environmental impacts of development which are already visible. The main culprit has been Crown agencies like Lands and Survey, and DOC. Had they pursued these issues they may have had more support especially from the Conservation Movement. However once they got the "Taite Buzz" they were away. Currently the Runanga according to their minutes is attempting to collect money from their constituent marae and from the money and assets they hold on behalf of Ngati Kahu. I doubt if this move is constitutional. Finally in any objections to development there's no need to tell blatant lies. Common sense, a knowledge of environmental impacts, tangata whenua appreciation of ones ukaipo, and a history of a particular place would have served the Runanga better.