SOUL TIMES ONLINE

SOUL Times 

Save Our Unique Landscape | #SaveIhumātao | www.soulstopsha.org | Issue #1 November 2015 

SPEAK UP 

TO SAVE IHUMATAO 

Dear Māngere resident, 

SOUL 

action points 

to date: 

For 1000 years 

humans have gazed 

across Ihumātao; 

dreaming, singing and 

worshipping, amidst the 

windswept beauty of 

this wild rocky outcrop 

jutting resolutely into 

the Manukau. 

Many generations have lived 

on and worked the land, 

planted crops, established 

families and farms and 

birthed rich culture and 

community. 

This pocket of exceptional 

coastal landscape which, 

despite decades of 

desecration from sewage 

treatment schemes, 

quarrying, industrial 

misuse and the increasing 

encroachment of 

commercial development 

around the Auckland 

Airport, is still standing. 

This land accommodated 

the Kingitanga Movement, 

sustained Mana Whenua 

since their earliest arrival, 

and has remnants of four 

generations of Scottish 

and English families who 

have crafted pastoral rocklined 

fields. But when your 

home is located in Tāmaki 

Makaurau you know you 

are in for a bit of a struggle. 

In a modern city of nearly 

two million people it is 

surely a miracle that we 

have on the city fringe, 

twenty five minutes from 

downtown, five minutes 

west of Auckland Airport 

and just south of Villa 

Maria Winery, a remnant 

of rural land - and a 

community 

deeply 

connected to 

the earliest 

human 

settlement. 

For a land with such a 

rich history coupled with 

such raw beauty you would 

imagine it is something of a 

national treasure. 

But to the disbelief and 

disappointment of the 

community much of this 

land was re-zoned to ‘future 

urban’ by an environment 

court decision in 2012. 

This decision made the 

green parcels of land 

open for development 

potential (although the 

judge anticipated it would 

take around 10 years and 

include robust planning 

inclusive of community 

input). 

But on the 31st of July 

2014, a block of 32 

hectares was gazetted as a 

Special Housing Area. By 

September 2014 approval 

was given for sale to 

Fletcher Residential (now 

56 per cent foreign owned) 

to build a 480 high-density 

Don’t let the sun set on one of Auckland’s last 

remaining crown jewels but speak up and 

preserve a piece of our city’s soul. 

housing development across 

this piece of iconic heritage. 

With a few pen strokes this 

decision effectively ended 

1000 years of continuous 

agricultural activity 

spanning the entire history 

of human occupation of the 

Auckland area. 

This is not the outcome 

that anyone would have 

imagined could ever be 

possible or permitted. 

Instead a tiny group of land 

owners and a compliant 

legal system have allowed 

foreign-owned developers to 

secure a massive financial 

reward. 

Paired with more intense 

industrial development 

currently underway, there 

will be numerous negative 

effects. 

The Land Wars have 

obviously never ended. 

We all wish Auckland 

was the ‘liveable city’ so 

passionately expounded 

by our city’s 

politicians. 

But for it to 

become a 

reality, people 

need places 

to breathe, to dream, to 

connect to ancestors and 

engage with history. 

At Ihumātao we can. 

So go for a drive, a bike or 

a walk down to Ihumātao 

and feel alive - do it now - 

because all this is about 

to come to an end – unless 

you let your voice be heard. 

Don’t let the sun set on 

one of Auckland’s last 

remaining crown jewels but 

speak up and preserve a 

piece of our city’s soul. 

PHOTO BY TONY SEARLE 

Please read on to find 

out how you can make 

a difference in this 

campaign. 

Yours sincerely, 

The SOUL (Save Our 

Unique Landscape) team 

WHO IS SOUL? 

SOUL (Save Our Unique 

Landscape) is led by 

a group of whānau 

in Ihumātao and is 

inclusive of residents, 

ratepayers, community 

members and 

interested parties of all 

backgrounds. Whānau 

members are also mana 

whenua whose families 

have lived here for many 

generations. 

SOUL believes a SHA 

in Ihumātao will 

destroy one of the few 

significant spaces we 

have left in Aotearoa. 

- Presentation to Auckland Heritage Advisory Panel, Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board and many groups and organisations of Māngere and wider Auckland. 

- Complaint laid to Ombudsman, Overseas Investment Office agree to review Fletcher Residential’s application to purchase land. 

- Letters delivered to every single MP in Parliament with the Labour Party, Green Party and, Māori Party co-leader Marama Fox, showing support to SOUL. 

- Presentation of a 4,000+ signature petition to Auckland Council Governing Body meeting in August (more than 250 SOUL supporters in attendance). 

- Meetings with Mayor Len Brown, Ken Lotu-Iiga of Fletcher Residential, Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse and Auckland City Councillors. 

- Proposal of Land Swap tabled to Council and local board, followed by a SOUL visit with Watercare Treatment Plant in Māngere.

www. soulstopsha.org SOULTimes November 2015 2 

Contested space: Ihumätao 

Ihumātao is known and 

respected as the longest 

continuously occupied 

papakainga (village) in the 

Auckland region. People 

have lived and worked at 

Ihumātao for over 1000 

years. Carbon dating of 

an archaeological site on 

nearby Puketūtu Island 

dates human settlement 

by the people of Ihumātao 

in the range of 1160 A.D. 

or the 12th century. 

Here is a short history of 

the on-going land issues 

and disputes at Ihumātao 

in the last 180 years. 

1836 Reverend William 

Fairburn claims to have 

purchased from Māori all 

the land from Ōtāhuhu to 

Papakura (83,000 acres), 

the entire area of South and 

East Auckland. 

1840-1850 Ongoing 

dispute over the Fairburn 

purchase. 

1863 Land confiscated 

as punishment for 

supporting the Kingitanga 

Movement. Internationally 

owned land commissioners 

use legal loopholes to 

confiscate all Māori owned 

land in Māngere and on sell 

to British settlers. 

1960-2000 Māngere 

Wastewater Treatment 

Plant makes large area 

of the Māngere foreshore 

off limits to the public 

and seriously pollutes the 

air, water and sea bed. 

Historic volcanoes quarried 

for airport construction 

and Auckland’s roading 

network. Oxidation 

ponds are eventually 

decommissioned and 

the Ihumātao foreshore 

SPILLAGE: Industrial dye destroyed the local awa. 

SIMPLER TIMES: A late 19th century scow on the Ōruarangi awa. 

restored however there is no 

restoration of the Ōruarangi 

awa. 

2009 Auckland 

Airport’s second runway 

construction bulldozes 

through a 600 year old 

urupa (grave site) on 

the Manukau Harbour 

foreshore unearthing 89 

graves. 

2012 Watercare 

announces plans to 

divert huge volumes of 

sewerage and stormwater 

from Central Auckland to 

the Māngere Wastewater 

Treatment Plant. There 

is ongoing community 

opposition to this plan on 

environmental grounds. Te 

Motu a Hiaroa/Puketūtu 

Island is designated as a 

bio-solids dumping ground. 

2012 The Environment 

Court orders Auckland 

Council to re-zone all Rural 

land west of the Auckland 

Airport to Future Urban. 

This effectively destroys the 

unique heritage value of 

this area and ends Council 

and community plans 

for the Māngere Gateway 

Heritage project. 

2013 Industrial dye 

spill completely devastates 

Waitomokia stream and 

Ōruarangi awa. One of 

Auckland’s worst pollution 

incidents. 

2015 Fletcher 

Residential Limited seeks 

approval to build a 480 

high-density housing 

development on the last 

remnant of rural land in 

Māngere in the Ihumātao 

area, the site of an ancient 

pa situated on the slopes 

of two volcanoes, Ōtuataua 

and Te Puketāpapatanga a 

Hape/Pukeiti. 

The people of Ihumātao 

today are the kaitiaki 

(guardians) of the 

environment and we 

have a responsibility 

to our ancestors and 

future generations to 

protect our sacred lands, 

including that of the 

Ōtuataua Stonefields 

Historic Reserve, the 

lava caves that were 

used in the burial of our 

ancestors, Ōruarangi 

Creek, the Manukau 

Harbour and the wider 

Ihumātao Peninsula. 

Waitangi Tribunal called on to act 

The founding members 

of SOUL are working with 

local lawyer Cameron 

Hockly of Bennion Law on 

an urgent application to 

the Waitangi Tribunal to 

consider that the Special 

Housing Areas Act breaches 

hapū over their customary 

land or other tāonga, full 

discussion must take place 

with Māori . 

The Special Housing Areas 

Act precludes participation 

by Māori in the consenting 

process on the basis that 

land within the SHA and 

surrounding it contains a 

great many tāonga, including 

historic sites of occupation, 

wāhi tapu and burial sites. 

The SHA will have a hugely 

detrimental impact on those 

tāonga if allowed to proceed. 

land. 

Kaitiakitanga means 

guardianship or stewardship. 

The limited rights to make 

a submission or be heard 

regarding developments on 

SHAs fail to recognise the 

katiaki role of the mana 

Manukau Harbour was 

heard at Makaurau Marae 

in 1985. The Tribunal 

commented, “We are frankly 

appalled by the events of the 

past and by the effect they 

have had on the Manukau 

tribes.” 

the Treaty of Waitangi for development of a SHA will 

3. The Act undermines the 

whenua in relation to the Yet many of the 

the following reasons: impact on their traditional 

ability of the residents of 

land at Ihumātao. 

recommendations of the 

1. The Act has been passed 

customary land. 

Ihumātao to exercise their 

The historic Waitangi 

Tribunal are still to be 

without consultation with 2. The Act does not 

katiaki role in relation to the 

Tribunal report on the implemented. 

Māori. 

An overarching principle 

of the Treaty of Waitangi is 

recognition that the Treaty 

created a partnership 

between the Crown and 

Māori. That partnership 

rests on the premise that 

both partners will act 

reasonably and in utmost 

good faith towards each 

other. The Tribunal has 

held that before the Crown 

makes decisions on matters 

provide any mechanism 

for the protection of tāonga 

associated with the land at 

545 Ōruarangi Road. 

Article 2 of the Treaty 

guarantees Māori protection 

of all of their lands, villages 

and tāonga or treasures. 

The SHA Act, with its limited 

notification requirements, 

excludes Māori from 

participating in decisions 

relating to SHAs that will 

impact on their relationship 

that might impinge upon with their wāhi tapu, 

the relationship of a tribe or and other treasures. The 

CHALLENGE: Members of SOUL perform a haka during an Auckland council meeting

www. soulstopsha.org SOUL Times November 2015 3 

THERE IS ANOTHER WAY 

ALTERNATIVE SITE OFFERS 

WIN-WIN OPTION FOR ALL 

A Viable Alternative 

to SHA 62 

Don’t let the bureaucrats 

make you think Ihumātao 

is the only place for a 

Special Housing Area. 

The people of Auckland own 

50 hectares of rural land on 

Ascot Rd and Greenwoods 

Rd in the Airport Oaks area 

of Māngere Central. This 

area of Auckland has the 

lowest per capita income 

and the greatest housing 

need. This is 

where we should 

be building homes 

for the benefit 

of the Māngere 

community, It is 

within walking 

distance of shops, 

schools, medical 

centres, multiple 

bus routes, cafes, 

restaurants, 

sports clubs and 

churches. On the 

otherhand, SHA 

62 at Ōruarangi 

Rd has none of 

the infrastructure that this 

alternative option offers. 

The Ascot Road site is a 

very interesting piece of 

land with beautiful sea 

views out to Puketūtu 

Island and to Māngere 

Mountain. The land is a 

mixture of ‘light industrial’ 

and ‘special purpose’ 

zoning. The land was an 

odour buffer zone for the 

old oxidations ponds but is 

now being landscaped as we 

speak (100,000 trees have 

been planted this spring). 

One underlying issue is 

whether the land is still 

subject to requirements for 

odour protection. We asked 

that question of Auckland 

Council planners at the 

Fletcher Residential is 100 

per cent owned by Fletcher 

Construction which is 56 

per cent owned by foreign 

banks, JP Morgan, HSBC, 

CITIbank and National 

Bank of Australia. As a 

foreign owned company 

they are required to apply 

to the Overseas Investment 

Office to gain approval to 

purchase of New Zealand 

land. SOUL has investigated 

the application and approval 

process with information 

released under the Official 

Information Act. There are 

so many irregularities and 

omissions in the Fletcher 

application that the 

Overseas Investment Office 

“SHA 62 at 

Oruarangi 

Rd has 

none of the 

infrastructure 

that this 

alternative 

option offers” 

outset of researching this 

idea and they assured us 

there is no insurmountable 

issue that would prevent 

the land being used for 

residential purposes. 

This is such an ideal spot 

that Māngere ratepayers 

received an invitation 

from Watercare to visit the 

Waste Water Treatment 

Plant and coastal walkways 

to experience what they 

described as “Auckland’s 

best kept secret”. 

A land swap proposal has 

been tabled with 

Auckland Council 

and the Māngere- 

Ōtāhuhu Local 

Board. 

This could secure 

the future of 

the Ōtuataua 

Stonefields 

and the land in 

question. The 

alternative sees 

a better housing 

option to meet 

the various 

demands and, 

attempts to maximise the 

land’s potential yield ( both 

in dwellings and financial 

return). 

Fletcher Residential can still 

make money and avoid a 

costly prolonged battle with 

the community over the 

Ōruarangi Rd site. Māngere 

gets much needed housing 

in a location well served by 

existing infrastructure. 

The city benefits by 

providing alternative 

funding to Watercare 

and taking pressure off 

ratepayers. 

This is a viable 

alternative that just 

requires courageous 

city administrators. 

(OIO) has began a review 

of their decision based on 

information supplied by 

SOUL. The 80 acre farm was 

described by Fletcher as a 

“domestic residence and the 

grass was mowed regularly 

for silage to keep the place 

tidy”. If the land is not 

classified as a ‘farm’ the 

approval process is much 

easier and the property does 

not have to be advertised 

on the local market. After 

much argument the OIO 

eventually required the 

owner to advertise the land 

for sale. Fletcher’s lawyer, 

not the owner, advertised 

the land in the Manukau 

Courier and Trade Me as 

Map showing the planned 

location for SHA62 and the 

alternative site between 

Watercare and Airport Oaks 

(outlined in red) 

HI-VIS VISIT: Members of SOUL (left) meet with a representative of Watercare. 

OIO SALE UNDER REVIEW 

“Farmland in Māngere for 

sale, suitable for cropping”. 

It could be argued that this 

is a misrepresentation of 

an 80 acre Special Housing 

Area zoned Future Urban. 

The purchaser is required to 

list any waahi tapu or urupa 

that might be on the land in 

question. Fletcher failed to 

declare Auckland’s oldest 

and most documented 

urupa contained in the 

huge lava cave system on 

the farm. No mention was 

made of Mana Whenua, 

the neighbours in the 

1000-year-old continuously 

occupied papakainga. 

Fletcher stated that the only 

heritage value of the land 

was as “the ancestral home 

of the Wallace Family”. No 

mention was made of the 

farm being confiscated from 

Māori of the papakainga 

in 1865 and granted at no 

cost to the Wallace Family 

in 1868. No mention was 

made of the defence, in 

2012, by the Auckland 

Council and local Iwi, to the 

Environment Court enforced 

zone change. The Auckland 

Council was attempting 

to purchase the block to 

complete the Ōtuataua 

Stonefields Historic Reserve. 

A review will be released 

within the coming 

weeks. 

Local Board on the SHA 

“We share the community’s 

concerns and maintain our 

objection to this SHA, as we 

have since it was first proposed. 

However we continue 

to support an outcome that 

includes the aspirations of 

SOUL and the Ihumātao 

Community.” 

Councillor Casey says 

no SHA: 

Motion: That the Governing 

Body of Auckland Council 

revokes part of Resolution 

number GB/2014/43 of 1 May 

2014 in relation to Tranche 3 

Special Housing Area at 

Ōruarangi Rd, Māngere. 

Voted on August 27, 2015 by 

Auckland Council. 

Motion lost 12-5

www. soulstopsha.org S.O.U.L. Times November 2015 4 

On this small piece of land it is possible to trace the history of human settlement 

in Auckland over the whole millennium, from the earliest Māori agricultural 

settlement, to the arrival of Europeans with their pastoral farming. Manukau has 

secured it’s birthplace. 

Nick Smith - current Housing Minister, made this statement at the opening of the Ōtuataua Stonefields Historic Reserve in 1999 

5 

reasons to s 

Cultural significance 

The entire Ihumātao area 

is a cultural landscape, 

embedded with identity, 

meaning, and significance. 

The character and integrity 

of the whole area is made 

up of its constituent parts, 

such as the maunga, 

the awa, the village, and 

the open nature of the 

landscape. The land on 

which the project site is 

situated is adjacent to the 

Ōtuataua Stonefields. 

The Ihumātao area is 

significant due to its place 

within this landscape, 

as well as its fertile soils, 

and its specific Waahi 

tapu areas. Waahi tapu, 

including springs and 

lava tunnel entrances, are 

located within the project 

site. While the project 

site has been subjected 

to historic modification 

(clearance and ploughing) 

it is highly probable that 

further features and 

artefacts associated with 

Māori occupation and 

activity remain undetected 

beneath the ground surface. 

Specific known Waahi 

tapu include Ōruarangi, Te 

Puketāpapatanga a Hape, 

a number of springs, and 

a number of lava cave 

entrances which have been 

historically used as urupa. 

The Ihumātao area is 

considered by Mana 

Whenua and Iwi Kainga 

to have strong wairua and 

mauri values associated 

with it. The development 

will most likely result in the 

destruction of resources 

and landmarks imbued with 

very significant spiritual 

and cultural values and 

consequently destroy 

this community’s unique 

cultural heritage. 

Geological Heritage 

The Ihumātao Peninsula is 

home to a rich and valuable 

volcanic landscape, with 

the Ōtuataua Stonefields 

Historic Reserve at its 

heart. Within the reserve 

can be found the remains of 

Ōtuataua maunga, and Te 

Puketāpapakanga a Hape/ 

Pukeiti. 

Pukeiti is notable for being 

the smallest scoria cone 

in the Auckland Volcanic 

Field. 

The wider region is notable 

as being the earliest site 

of human settlement 

in Auckland, desirable 

because of the abundant 

resources in the harbour, 

and the fertile soil 

surrounding the volcanic 

cones. This soil is formed 

from tuff, volcanic material 

ranging in size from ash 

to gravel sized fragments. 

This material quickly 

forms a mineral rich, welldraining 

soil that Auckland 

is renowned for. Rocks 

and lava within the soil 

provided warmth and an 

extended growing season 

for tropical crops brought 

from Polynesia by the first 

settlers. 

As population pressure 

grew volcanic cones 

provided defence, while 

gardening took place on the 

more fertile lower slopes 

and flat areas. Auckland is 

known for distinctive scoria 

cones, but of an area that 

once consisted of 8000 

hectares of settlement sites 

on volcanic tuff rings and 

stonefields, this is one of 

the last remaining sites 

where the complete volcanic 

landscape is preserved. 

Since the 19th century land 

in this area was used as 

pastoral grazing, and due 

to lack of development this 

land provides a complete 

unbroken history of human 

occupation, from gardening, 

to pastoral farming, to town 

milk supply. 

Social imp 

The circumstances of the 

development (location, scale, and 

proximity to village) mean that 

the well-being of the associated 

community, and those who reside 

in the papakainga, will be directly 

and intimately impacted. 

The impact to the cultural 

landscape is marked, 

especially when considering 

the development sits between 

the papakainga and its sacred 

maunga. In addition to the 

physicality of the development, 

the increased population has 

the potential to impact upon the 

character and integrity of the 

papakainga, effectively making it 

a small neighbour within its own 

landscape. 

An additional matter to consider 

is the potential that the 

development could change the 

local economics relating to land 

prices and housing rentals in


He Kura Kainga e Hokia – 

He Kura Tangata e Kore e Hokia 

The treasure of the land will persist – human possessions will not 

top the SHA 

PHOTO BY TONY SEARLE 

lications 

the long-term, which could make 

it more difficult to purchase 

land within or near the village. 

Increased rates and rental prices 

may force resident whānau to 

leave their papakainga. 

The increase in population will 

of course lead to an increase in 

traffic flows through the centre of 

the village, with knock-on effects 

of increased noise, congestion, 

vehicle emissions and road safety 

issues, a particular concern given 

the large number of children 

living in the village. 

The construction phase with 

multiple truck and earthwork 

movements with potential 

dust issues are also matters to 

consider. 

And storm-water discharge to the 

Ōruarangi Awa will undermine 

the aspiration to once again use 

the awa for kai and recreation. 

Treaty of Waitangi 

After 150 years of 

ongoing desecration, 

colonisation, dislocation 

and misappropriation the 

iwi kainga are now almost 

completely landless. 

Following the confiscation 

of the 1100 hectares of 

land at Ihumātao, which 

includes the project site 

area, Mana Whenua are 

left with 0.671ha of Māori 

Reservation Land. The 

streamlined SHA process 

will enable rapid consents 

for intensive housing 

on this unique area of 

ancestral land. The short 

time frames introduced by 

the HASHA Act are entirely 

inappropriate given the 

broad historic context of the 

site. 

This land was wrongfully 

confiscated in 1863 as 

punishment for allegiance 

to the Kingitanga and not to 

Queen Victoria. 

Since the 1960s local 

communities have been 

seeking redress and are 

currently preparing for 

a Treaty of Waitangi 

negotiation. 

New Zealand also has a 

duty under international 

law to consult with 

indigenous peoples about 

developments that will 

impact on them. 

This duty is found in 

customary international law 

and in conventions to which 

New Zealand is party. 

The Crown has a duty to 

make an informed decision. 

But there has been no 

effective, meaningful 

and genuine efforts of 

consultation in good faith. 

Consultation about what 

a development ‘looks like’ 

is not consultation about 

whether a development 

should be built in this 

location to begin with. 

World Heritage status 

This is a unique landscape 

with the opportunity 

to develop initiatives, 

around the potential for 

World Heritage status, 

which tell the science of 

the geological landscape, 

intertwined with the 

stories of Mana Whenua. 

Ihumātao is the oldest 

continually occupied Maori 

village in Auckland. The 

spiritual and cultural 

values of the land are 

intertwined with the 

traditions and features of 

the land. Securing this site 

will maintain the unique 

essence of the Ōtuataua 

Stonefields and honour the 

history of the land and the 

people who made it their 

home over the past 800 

years. The area proposed for 

development is a valuable 

record, set in stone, of 

Māori and European life. 

Within its boundaries 

remarkable collections can 

be found of natural and 

man-made resources of the 

thriving communities that 

once lived here. 

Governing Bodies need to 

protect, conserve, enhance 

and maintain the significant 

archaeological features, 

the sensitive natural 

environment and the 

cultural heritage resources 

that are found here.


SPEAKING UP AGAINST SHA 

Manukau Courier Editorial 15/12/2015 

“Everyone in the Māngere community should be working together on an alternative 

to threatening a precious heritage” 

Mama’s 

letter 

Kia ora koutou, Ko Mama 

Nuku taku ingoa. Ko 

Waikato te awa, Ko Tainui 

te iwi, Ko Tainui te waka, 

Ko Taupiri te Maunga, 

Ko Turangawaewae 

te marae, Ko Potatau te 

Wherowhero Te Tangata, 

He Piko he taniwha, He 

Piko he Taniwha, Waikato 

Taniwha Rau. 

I would like to ask you 

a few questions. Do 

you enjoy running 

around open fields or 

parks, climbing hills and 

mountains? Does your 

family have a special 

place that you take your 

loved ones to lay them 

to rest? If you answered 

yes, then SOUL needs 

your help. Even though 

we are young, our say 

matters. We are the 

future leaders of our 

country, and as a future 

leader of this country, I 

SUPPORT SOUL. 

Soul started with a 

bunch of cousins, sitting 

around the table talking 

about their precious 

place they call home. 

SOUL has now got loads 

of support from all over 

the place. If you have 

ever been or heard of 

Ōtuataua Stonefields, 

then that is where 

Ihumãtao is. Down the 

back streets before 

you get to the Auckland 

Airport. 

We all know that there is 

a need for houses here 

in Auckland, but at what 

cost? 

- Mama, aged 10 years 

Hohepa Joe Hawke - 

Kaumātua, Orakei Marae, 

Former Labour MP & 

Bastion Point Occupation 

Leader 

Our whenua needs to 

be protected and preserved 

for our up and 

coming generations. 

Metiria Turei 

Greens Party co-leader 

The SOUL campaign have 

done a great job of ensuring 

that their concerns are 

heard. Now the Government 

needs to listen. The drive to 

resolve the housing crisis 

doesn’t require the demolition 

of waahi tapu. 

Community Leaders opposed to SHA62 

Anahera Pono Morehu Kuia, Orakei Marae 

Andrew Honore President 2015-18 Māngere Rotary Club 

Angeline Henry President, Te Rakau Ture, Auckland Uni Māori Law Students Society 

Arihia Stirling Principal, Te Kura Māori o Nga Tapuwae, Māngere 

Barbara Dixon St James Church, Māngere Bridge 

Bill Peace JP STRIVE Team Manager, Māngere 

Dame Nganeko Minhinnick Ruruhi o Ngati Te Ata, Te Wai-o-Hua 

Dr Renus Stowers Māngere Doctor 

Dr Vaaiga Autagavaia Māngere Doctor 

Dr. Nick Roskruge Chairman,Tahuri Whenua/National Māori Horticulture 

Collective 

Fletcher Beazley Project Manager, Māngere 

Gordon Toi House of Natives, Multi Media Artist, Ta Moko, Sculptor, Carver & Actor 

Te Hei Deanna Tamaariki 

- Kuia, Orakei Marae 

& Taumata Deputy 

Chairperson 

We support the campaign 

as we have been 

through this before 

and we have strong 

blood ties to Ihumātao. 

Reverend Hirini Kaa. 

Turangawaewae needs to be 

built on firm physical and 

spiritual foundations. A 

wise community will not 

build its housing on the 

shifting sands of injustice. 

Alec Hawke - Kaumātua, 

Orakei Marae 

We see the parallels of 

what happened here 

at Takaparawhau 

(Bastion point – at the 

land occupation) with 

what is happening at 

Ihumātao. 

Roger Fowler QSM, 

director, Māngere East 

Community Centre. 

Our community united to 

stop the planned motorway 

through Māngere last year. 

Together we can also stop 

the desecration of Ihumātao 

with ‘peoples power”. Let’s 

do it! 

Melissa Crockett-Joyoue, AUCKLAND, NZ 

I worked on the Ihumātao Stonefields tourism development project as a Māori Tourism 

consultant. The people of Ihumātao and Makaurau Marae have been treated unbelievably 

badly by the Crown and local government in relation to the land confiscations, quarrying 

of sacred sites, imposition of the city’s sewage treatment plant in their land. This SHA is 

simply replicating this mistreatment and lack of respect for their sacred 

whenua. It should not go ahead on this site. 

To Ihumātao 

(A poem) 

by Jacqueline Carter 

What care we 

for stones 

and signs 

of your Polynesian forebears? 

How do middens 

and land formations 

even compare 

to castles and chapels? 

And let’s just face it 

the only currency 

of any value 

in today’s society 

is that which will line 

the pockets and wallets 

and clothe and house 

the area’s ‘developers’... 

(not to mention a few 

public servants...) 

This is land ripe 

for the taking 

It matters not 

what was on it 

or lies beneath it 

or happened on it 

The only history 

worth protecting 

is that which marks 

our domination 

The only bones 

worth revering 

are those that fought 

in worldly battles 

And the only people 

and communities 

that really matter 

in Aotearoa 

Are those that have 

our seal of approval 

for being rich, 

and/or white 

and/or compliant... 

Yours sincerely, 

Auckland Council. 

Herawhakamana Sarah Grey Kuia, Orakei Marae 

Ilmars Gravis Māngere Bridge resident, Blogger: “Māngere Bridge Rocks” 

James Papali’i MANA Pasifika 

Jan Lambert ESOL Educator, Māngere 

Janice Beazley Parenting Educator, Māngere 

Jason Mareroa Mauri Ora Kaiwhakaruruhau, Te Korowai Aroha 

Jerry Daniels President & Māori Student Officer, Auckland Uni Māori Students Assoc. 

Jim Peters Pro Vice Chancellor (Māori), University of Auckland 

Joe Trinder MANA, Māngere 

Jon Zealando New Zealand Grand Master of Magic, Māngere Bridge resident 

Jos Very Māngere Bridge real estate agent, long term Māngere Bridge resident 

Karen Matata Manager - ME Family Services ECE, Ihumātao 

Lyn Doherty Service Manager, Ohomairangi Trust 

Maia Te Ra Fowler Coordinator, Māngere East OSCAR 

Marama Fox Māori Party Co-Leader


SPEAKING UP AGAINST SHA 

Su’a William Sio – Labour 

MP Māngere 

I am standing up in support 

of SOUL! This is not an 

ultimatum about one or 

the other, it’s about being 

smart and having both - the 

development of affordable 

homes and the protection 

of a scared papakainga 

reserve site. 

“Riro whenua atu! Hoki whenua mai!” Eru Mohi 

Ngati Tahinga Wilson, 

Ihumātao 

Ko au ko Puketāpapa, 

Ko Puketāpapa ko au 

Councillor Cathy Casey 

The failure to publicly 

notify is just appalling given 

the controversy and the 

widespread public interest 

in this SHA across the 

wider Auckland region. 

The SOUL campaign 

gathered 4000+ signatures 

within weeks yet they will 

have no say in this process. 

Lemauga Lydia Sosene, 

Chairperson, Māngere- 

Otāhuhu Local Board 

From the outset the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu 

Local Board 

raised concerns to Officers 

about this development. 

There is no doubt we need 

more affordable homes in 

Māngere but the Board is 

not convinced this location 

has been assessed correctly 

to service the needs of our 

local people. 

Janice Roberts – Kuia, 

Ihumātao 

[I oppose SHA62] because of 

its cultural and historical 

significance. Our spiritual 

connection to the whenua 

is like a life force. You can’t 

see it, you can’t touch it, 

but we feel it! I think it’s 

great what SOUL is doing 

and have achieved. You are 

like role models for our 

people and have created a 

positive ripple effect. 

Fiona Tumai-Totorewa, 

Ihumātao 

I want my mokos to have 

what their tupuna had. 

Elizabeth Walker 

The land is the only thing 

in the world worth working 

for, worth fighting for, worth 

dying for, because it’s the 

only thing that lasts 

Waimarie McFarland, 

Ihumātao 

Not only do we inherit 

the land and role of 

guardianship of the land 

from our Ancestors but 

we borrow the land from 

and pass down the role 

of guardianship to our 

children. 

Pelika Bertelmann 

More consideration should 

be made to the impacts this 

development will have on 

the whole community as 

well as the traditional land 

owners of this proposed 

land! As I understand the 

need to provide housing 

for families that is only one 

consideration...Quality of 

life cannot and should not 

be a checklist of shelter, 

food and water but, in all 

areas of health (physical, 

mental, spiritual, and 

emotional) considerations 

should be made! 

Maurice Maru Wilson, 

Kaumātua, Ihumātao 

This development will ruin 

a cultural and historic gem 

which has been home to us 

for many generations. 

Matt Kirkbride 

As our family farmed on 

Ihumātao Road for four 

generations and were early 

pioneers in the area, it’s 

extremely important to me 

that this unique part of 

Auckland be preserved and 

protected from these foreign 

owned developers who 

have no other interest than 

turning a profit. 

Councillor Mike Lee - 

former chairman 

Auckland Regional 

Council 

The construction of 

an intensified housing 

development on this site is 

grotesque - the imposition 

of this development against 

the clearly articulated wishes 

of the people of the area 

is a rank injustice. This 

development must be stopped. 

Councillor Arthur Anae 

Don’t believe it’s a done 

deal and there are no 

options, it has been clearly 

identified there may be, if 

all agreed. We need to get to 

that position first. 

Naomi Lange Long time Māngere East resident 

Pania Newton Executive Member, Matike Mai Aotearoa Rangatahi, NZ Māori Youth for 

Constitutional Transformation, Ihumātao 

Qiane Matata-Sipu Journalist, Artist, Ihumātao 

Peter Sykes Director, ME Family Services 

Peeni Henare Tamaki Makarau MP, Labour Party 

Rene Hawke Kuia, Ngati Mahuta 

Rev Les Dixon Reverend, St James Church, Māngere Bridge 

Rev Vicki Sykes Consultant 

Richard Grey Kaumātua, Orakei Marae 

Robert Jahnke Professor of Māori Visual Arts & Senior Lecturer, School of Art, Massey 

University 

Robert Roberts Kaumātua, Ihumātao 

Steven Matejan President, Onehunga Māngere United AFC 

Te Hamua Nikora Māori Comedian, Presenter & Motivational Speaker 

Councillor Wayne Walker 

I fully support SOUL in its 

efforts to save the special 

landscape. After walking 

over the area and seeing the 

taonga it holds I am firmly 

of the view it should be 

added to the park. 

Thomas Leuluai NZ Warriors Utility Player, Māngere 

Thomas Rawiri Lead Singer, IHI 

Tigilau Ness Musician (Godfather of NZ Reggae & Original member of the 

Polynesian Panthers) 

Veronica Tawhai Policy & Politics Lecturer & Treaty of Waitangi Educator, Massey 

University 

Wikatana Popata Activist, Kaitaia Airport 

Wiremu Pikitekaha Aperahama Kaitiaki, Ratana Temple 

Yvonne Thomas Co-ordinator and Manager, Old School Reserve teaching gardens, 

Māngere 

Go to www.soulstopsha.org for a full list of 

community leaders supporting this campaign.


HOW CAN I HELP? 

Why the urgency? 

How the SHA Act works: 

Before Fletchers can begin work on the planned 

subdivision at 545 Ōruarangi Road it needs the 

Council to agree to change the Proposed Unitary 

Plan. It also needs resource consent for the subdivision. 

The SHA Act allows applications for Plan 

changes and subdivision consents to be fasttracked 

without the usual notification and submission 

processes required under the Resource 

Management Act 1991. 

The land is currently zoned for future development. 

In June, Fletchers applied to Auckland 

Council for a Plan change to rezone the block 

to a combination of Mixed Housing Suburban, 

Public Open Space – Conservation, and Green 

Infrastructure Corridor. The Auckland Housing 

Project Office accepted that application on 25 

September 2015. 

The Project Office must make a final decision 

on the application within 130 working days (or 6 

months). First it must give notice of the accepted 

plan change to adjacent land owners and infrastructure 

provider. This was done on 6 October. 

Those notified have until 5 November to make 

submissions to the Project Office. Therefore, 

SOUL encourages you to make a submission. 

This Act was developed under budget secrecy 

rules with no consultation with affected parties 

outside of Government. There is no process for 

challenging the creation of a special housing 

area. Rights of submission are limited and there 

is no appeal to the Environment Court in most 

cases (strangely there is only a right of appeal 

against a decision of the Project Office if the 

development is 4 storeys or higher). Most of the 

Resource Management Act does not apply to 

SHAs. The whole process is an erosion of democracy. 

Let’s make sure the feelings of our community 

about this are heard by the decision makers 

in the Project Office. 

You can also... 

1. Send a letter to Fletcher Residential 

Fletcher Residential Limited 

C/- Harrison Grierson 

P.O. Box 276121 

Manukau City 

Auckland 2022 

Attn: Andrew McCarthy a.mccarthy@ 

harrisongrierson.com 

Objections must be in before November 5. 

2. Send a letter or e-mail to Hon Dr Nick 

Smith, Minister of Building and Housing, 

and a copy to your local MP 

3. Come to a SOUL meeting, held every 

Wednesday from 6-7.30pm 

4. Sign up to the SOUL mailing list: send 

your e-mail address to soulvssha@gmail. 

com 

5. Visit the SOUL website and spread the 

word! www.soulstopsha.org 

6. Like us on Facebook: 

www.facebook.com/SOUL.noSHA; 

or subscribe to our YouTube Channel – 

search Save our Unique Landscape at 

youtube.com; 

or follow us on Twitter: @saveIhumatao 

Please sign, cut out the below letter and post to Neil 

Birrell at Auckland Council before November 5. 

Neil Birrell 

Resource Consent Administrator Auckland Council 

Private Bag 92300 Victoria Street West Auckland 1142 

SpecialHousingArea@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz 

Dear Mr Birrell, 

I am an Auckland resident and ratepayer writing to you regarding the plans to 

build housing at Ihumātao. I feel as the Ōtuataua Stonefields are council owned I 

as a ratepayer should be seen as an adjacent landowner. I am not only objecting 

to the building of housing on this site but also objecting to the biased, nondemocratic 

and massively flawed Special Housing Area legislation. This letter is 

to highlight my issues and to ask for SHA62 plans to be scrapped and for the 

Special Housing Area legislation to be halted and reviewed. 

Below are the reasons I am against Special Housing Area 62: 

- I believe that SHA62 will not contribute to making Auckland a liveable city. 

- This area is the birth place of Auckland and should be celebrated, not sold off to 

the highest bidders. 

- Ihumātao is one of the last remaining original and liveable papakainga in 

Aotearoa. 

- This land was changed from future rural to future urban. This change by 

council only benefits offshore businesses and totally disregards the Heritage 

Gateway Project. 

- SHA62 is too close to waahi tāpu sites and I feel that it is disrespectful to build 

here. 

- The full archaeological significance of this heritage site is unknown. 

- SHA62 will have a negative impact on Ōtuataua Stonefields. 

- SHA62 will have a negative impact on the habitat of the rare shorebirds of the 

area. 

- Natural restoration of the coastal line is finally to the point where local Māori 

can collect food again. Increased water runoff and waste water will put this at 

risk. 

Although I am not against additional housing initiatives in Auckland I do have 

concerns about the Special Housing Area process: 

- No public consultation is permitted. 

- Land once promised to Auckland residents can be changed without public 

consultation. 

- Auckland residents have no way to object. 

- Residents of Ihumātao, many with an ancestral connection to the first settlers, 

have no way to object. 

- Auckland councillors have highlighted issues with the system. That there is not 

enough time dedicated to give proper thought to each individual SHA application 

is just one of them. 

- Auckland councillors have admitted to mistakes and misinterpretation of the 

facts regarding SHA62. 

- Auckland Council can be totally vetoed by current government. 

- Research by a group called Save Our Unique Landscape has highlighted many 

issues with the process. 

I understand that this letter does not exactly fit into your SHA process. However, 

I am demanding the right, as a concerned Auckland resident, to have my 

objections to SHA62 considered. If I am shut out of this formal process, how will 

my voice be heard? 

I look forward to your respectful reply to all of the points listed above. 

Yours faithfully 

Name: 

Address: 

To donate to the SOUL campaign go to: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/soulstopsha62/

SOUL TIMES ONLINE

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?