Iwi members and a protest group are readying themselves for a lengthy occupation of land at Wellington's contentious seaside development Shelly Bay.
Anaru Mepham, who is a member of Mau Whenua, is leading an occupation at Shelly Bay in opposition to a planned seaside development. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Yesterday, the Mau Whenua group pitched their tents and set up camp, ahead of the developer's plans to push on with a project, which is set to include 350 luxury sea-view apartments.
Shelly Bay has become synonymous with legal battles, famous filmmakers, fraught local politics and iwi in-fighting.
But to Anaru Mepham, who is mana whenua, this headland was much more than a headline.
"A thousand years of habitation of whānau going about their day-to-day living, engaging, there were dramas, there were battles, there were occupations.
"This place has a really deep history for all of us."
Shelly Bay. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
He said the area was significant for non-Māori too, and the heritage of the whenua "speaks loudly".
Mepham is part of the Mau Whenua group - Taranaki Whānui iwi members and protesters who believe their iwi sold a large chunk of the land illegally to the developer Ian Cassels.
Then, last week Wellington City Councillors voted in favour of the sale and lease of its land for the development.
A builder from Paraparaumu, Mepham is a little daunted to find himself now leading an occupation.
"The easy thing in doing this is that I know in my heart this is right. Personally, I can weather whatever comes my way."
Mepham has been involved in the fight to keep the land for five years, but declared an occupation yesterday.
Mau Whenua are camping at Shelly Bay in opposition to a planned development. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Eight people stayed in tents and caravans overnight.
Mayor of Wellington Andy Foster, who is against the development, even stopped by and helped fix a broken tent.
Mepham said having mana whenua occupy the land was important regardless of numbers. He said without whenua, there was no mana.
"We are standing on it for our old people and for our unborn."
Mau Whenua is standing against the loss of Māori land.
"The transaction was illegal, claiming ownership was illegal. This is stolen Māori land and we want it back," Mepham said.
The group will occupy the land until at least March - when a High Court hearing over the land sale will go ahead.
A supporter, who is also Taranaki Whānui, Linda Aroha-Olsen said she was totally against what she called a "land-grab".
Linda Aroha-Olsen of Taranaki Whānui iwi is against the Shelly Bay development and is asking people to go and support them. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
"This is not just about Taranaki, this is about whānau whānui, ngā hau e whā, and all cultures and creeds.
"Come and tautoko us, come and support us, for this important kaupapa.
"The land's been grabbed and it's still happening in this generation. It's unbelievable. We're here for the next generation."
Another supporter, who isn't mana whenua, Peter Niven said he was there to support "the important voices in the conversation" and because he cared about the land.
Peter Niven is standing by Mau Whenua in its occupation of Shelly Bay. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
"We do not need this type of high-value accommodation, where a small amount of people will be able to live in luxury apartments," he said.
"I'm not saying this area should be turned into emergency accommodation, but it should be used for supporting life, the type of life we need in this area and not what Ian Cassels has planned."
Cassel declined to comment - instead directing RNZ to speak to the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust, which manages the treaty settlement package for Taranaki Whānui.
They are yet to respond to RNZ's request for comment.
Councillors who voted in favour of the development have told RNZ the sale would allow iwi to make the most of their Treaty Settlement investments.