275 Times September 2017

Ihumātao Campaign: U.N. Calls for Review
Left: Delwyne Roberts and Pania Newton
(SOUL) during a break at the Geneva talks, with
Dr Heather Came-Friar (AUT, STIR, Tāmaki Tiriti
Workers), and NZ Race Relations Commissioner,
Dame Susan Devoy.
mentioned the word ‘racism’. We’re
here to look at the Government’s
compliance in relation to eliminating
all forms of racial discrimination,
yet they can’t say the ‘R’ word.”
>> continued from page 1
the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and
other relevant international standards,
and that the [Government] obtain
the free and informed consent of
Māori before approving any project
affecting the use and development of
their traditional land and resources.”
For Pania, it’s a very important
outcome: “It’s heartening that a UN
body, at an international level like
this, has recognised our issue and
the significance of the whenua at
Ihumātao. This is huge,” she says.
“Now the Government must be
compelled to take action, review
its designation, and adequately
work with the parties affected by
the proposed development.”
Government response criticised
Pania reports that the issue of the
Ihumātao land dispute was raised
several times during the CERD
formal meetings by a number
of committee members.
She says it was clear from the
responses given by the NZ
Government’s representatives that they
“were out of their depth, and behind
the ball on eliminating racism in NZ.
“They were obviously taken aback
by the number of times Ihumātao
was raised by committee members
and could not adequately address
the issues regarding Fletchers’
proposed development.
“WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL
FLETCHERS RETREAT AND
THE LAND IS PRESERVED
AS AN OPEN GREEN SPACE.”
“I was appalled by this, and the fact
that their assumptions were backed
by no evidence whatsoever. After the
presentation we approached them;
they apologised and asked us to
send them the correct information.”
Delwyne noted: “[The NZ Government]
delegates claimed that
‘consultation’ had occurred, but as UN
Special Rapporteur Gay McDougall
stated, consultation is not the same
as consent. The delegates’ answers
were superficial and unsubstantiated”.
AUT lecturer Dr Heather Came-Friar,
who was also at Geneva, said: “The
New Zealand Government has not
Support from many quarters
Although Pania is disappointed to
have had “to go to the world stage to
achieve this fundamental recognition,
and have our plea for more just
democratic processes heard”, she
and Delwyne have been heartened
by the support they’ve received
in the fight to save Ihumātao.
“I am so grateful and proud of all our
supporters of the SOUL campaign
to protect Ihumātao. We could not
have gone this far without your
aroha and tautoko,” she says.
She has also been “amazed by
the amount of support and
encouragement received from the NZ
Race Relations Commissioner, Dame
Susan Devoy. It makes this process
a bit easier to navigate through”.
Pania, Delwyne and SOUL are vowing
to fight on. “We have taken our issue
to the UN in New York, the World
Indigenous Peoples Conference in
Toronto, and now CERD in Geneva.
We will not stop until Fletchers
retreat and the land is preserved as
an open green space,” Pania says.
Readers who want to support
the SOUL campaign can visit
www.soulstopsha.org or email:
saveihumatao@gmail.com
2
NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD
TREASURE TROVE
MEFSC's Georgina Kelly Ngatoko (right) helps
find new homes for property left at Auckland Airport.
ME Family Services Centre
is redistributing lost and
forgotten treasures back into
the Māngere community.
Since August, the Centre has been
collecting and re-homing clothes,
shoes, bags, pillows, walking
sticks, books and other property
left behind at Auckland Airport by
forgetful – or generous – travellers.
It’s a new way for the Centre
to support families in Māngere,
and extend the life of useful
items at the same time .
If you’d like to have a look at the
latest donations, call MEFSC’s
Resource Recovery Coordinator
Georgina Kelly Ngatoko on 09
280 3379 between 9am and
3pm weekdays, or send her a
message on Facebook: @MEFSC.
There is a catch, though.
As Georgina says: “Everything is
negotiable, but nothing is free.
So come and be prepared to trade
something – your cash, your time,
your talents, or your networks!”