The Star: March 14, 2024
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Thursday <strong>March</strong> <strong>14</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
8<br />
NEWS<br />
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz<br />
Deadline looms for hut residents:<br />
• By Daniel Alvey<br />
FOR GREENPARK Huts<br />
resident Don Brown, his bach<br />
is much more than a building.<br />
It provides him with a vital<br />
connection to Te Waihora Lake<br />
Ellesmere.<br />
Like all residents the huts, Don<br />
has just over three months to<br />
leave. He uses as his hut as a base<br />
for fishing.<br />
In 2020, landowners, Ngāi<br />
Tahu delivered the news to hut<br />
owners that beyond June 30 this<br />
year, their leases would not be<br />
renewed.<br />
<strong>The</strong> first buildings were<br />
built at Greenpark Huts in the<br />
early 1900s. Ngāi Tahu gained<br />
ownership of the land from the<br />
Crown in 1998 as part of its<br />
Treaty of Waitangi settlement.<br />
Greenpark Huts is one of three<br />
lakeside settlements soon to be<br />
wiped off the map. Upper Selwyn<br />
Huts and Lower Selwyn Huts<br />
are also facing a finite future due<br />
to similar issues with climate<br />
change and wastewater.<br />
Don said he would not be<br />
leaving.<br />
“<strong>The</strong>y’ll have to get the bailiffs<br />
in,” Don said.<br />
If residents refuse to leave,<br />
Ngāi Tahu would have to file<br />
an eviction notice with the<br />
Christchurch District Court. If<br />
successful, the court will appoint<br />
a bailiff who may be supported<br />
by police. It is against the law<br />
for Ngāi Tahu to evict residents<br />
themselves.<br />
Don said Ngāi Tahu knows it<br />
is doing something wrong by its<br />
principles.<br />
“<strong>The</strong>y (Ngāi Tahu) have<br />
discomfort in what they are<br />
doing. <strong>The</strong>y know that it is not in<br />
their tribal philosophy.<br />
“<strong>The</strong>y know that in their<br />
heart that it is not appropriate<br />
behaviour and to hold that up<br />
to other iwi it would become<br />
embarrassing.<br />
“If you applied Māori principles<br />
to the whole community it<br />
does not gel, but when you do<br />
it to a tribal member it is even<br />
more vicious.”<br />
Even with little time left, Don<br />
is still hoping Ngāi Tahu will<br />
change its mind.<br />
WAITING: Greenpark Huts is one of three settlements on<br />
the shores of Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere that will soon be<br />
wiped off the map. Resident Don Brown of Ngāi Tahu<br />
has a long-standing connection with the area.<br />
“It came as a bit of shock,<br />
and since then there have been<br />
communications backwards and<br />
forwards, but their (Ngāi Tahu’s)<br />
position hasn’t changed, I’m<br />
hoping it will.<br />
“Some of the advice they made<br />
the decision on has become<br />
dated in light of new science,”<br />
Don said.<br />
PHOTOS: DANIEL ALVEY<br />
Despite being Ngāi Tahu, Don<br />
is not getting special treatment<br />
and is facing the same fate as<br />
the other 32 hut owners. All<br />
residents must leave by June 30<br />
and remove all buildings at their<br />
own expense by September 30.<br />
He grew up in Lincoln and<br />
would frequently visit the hut,<br />
which was owned by his father,<br />
since about 1950.<br />
In the early days, he would<br />
come out on horse and cart.<br />
“<strong>The</strong> road was abysmal,” Don<br />
recalls.<br />
His current hut has been<br />
on the site for about 30 years<br />
after the original building was<br />
condemned by the council due to<br />
its condition.<br />
Don said his whakapapa and<br />
association with the lake goes<br />
back before Ngāi Tahu arrived<br />
in about 1690 to the early iwi<br />
Ngāti Māmoe and before that<br />
Waitaha, about 400-500 years<br />
ago.<br />
“Our family predates the Ngāi<br />
Tahu occupation of this part of<br />
Canterbury,” Don said.<br />
Ngāi Tahu says the reasons for<br />
the eviction include the quality<br />
of drinking water, the impending<br />
risk from climate change<br />
and unconsented wastewater<br />
systems.<br />
Since the iwi’s tribunal settlement,<br />
Don has felt isolated from<br />
the community for being Ngāi<br />
Tahu.<br />
“<strong>The</strong>re is racism and a disconnect.”<br />
He said after Ngāi Tahu took<br />
over the land, he was nominated<br />
to be a spokesperson on behalf<br />
of the community to the iwi, but<br />
no-one seconded him.<br />
Thinking about a<br />
heat pump?<br />
Look no further than Aztec Enterprises, your one-stop HVAC business for all your<br />
Look no further than Aztec air-conditioning Enterprises, and your ventilation one-stop needs HVAC<br />
business for all your air-conditioning and ventilation needs.<br />
Our products include heat pumps, ventilation systems, multi units, ducted systems, extractor<br />
Look Our no products further than include Aztec Enterprises, heat fans, pumps, range<br />
your ventilation one-stop<br />
hood, air<br />
HVAC<br />
curtains, systems, business<br />
etc. multi for all units, your<br />
air-conditioning and ventilation needs<br />
ducted systems, extractor fans, range hood, air curtains, etc.<br />
We provide our customers with the best service and products from leading manufacturers at a<br />
ur products include heat pumps, ventilation systems, multi units, ducted systems, extractor<br />
We very provide competitive our customers price, and always with the live best up to service our motto and - products Expect Excellence from Everytime<br />
fans, range hood, air curtains, etc.<br />
leading manufacturers at a very competitive price, and always live<br />
e provide up to our our customers Contact<br />
motto - with us to<br />
Expect the schedule best Excellence service a free and consultation products Everytime. from and leading a no manufacturers obligation quote at a<br />
very competitive price, and always live up to our motto - Expect Excellence Everytime<br />
Contact us to schedule a free consultation and a no<br />
Contact us to schedule a free consultation and a no obligation quote<br />
obligation quote<br />
info@aztecent.co.nz<br />
www.aztecent.co.nz<br />
021 2374464<br />
Tel. 021 2374464<br />
Tel. 021 info@aztecent.co.nz<br />
2374464<br />
info@aztecent.co.nz www.aztecent.co.nz<br />
www.aztecent.co.nz<br />
West Coasters<br />
Are you living off the Coast and would like to<br />
keep up with the local news and events?<br />
We have new digital editions available for subscription.<br />
Scan here<br />
digital.greystar.co.nz<br />
<strong>The</strong> Christchurch Food Show<br />
5 - 7 April <strong>2024</strong>, Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch<br />
Indulge in a culinary adventure!<br />
Whether you’re a true foodie, wine<br />
enthusiast, or simply someone<br />
who loves to eat - this event is the<br />
ultimate destination for all things<br />
delicious. Explore over 120 exhibitors<br />
showcasing the finest local and<br />
international food, wine and more.<br />
Join us at <strong>The</strong> Christchurch Food Show,<br />
it’s a must-attend for all foodies!<br />
WIN<br />
TICKETS<br />
www.foodshow.co.nz<br />
We have 4 double passes to <strong>The</strong> Christchurch Food Show,<br />
PLUS reserved front row seats in the NEFF Cooking <strong>The</strong>atre and a<br />
stocked goodie bag! Email: giveaways@starmedia.kiwi<br />
Entries close Friday 22nd <strong>March</strong> <strong>2024</strong>.