Ngai Tai Ki Tamaki Rule Out Taniwha Tax

The Taxpayers Union is welcoming comments by James Brown, Chairman of Ngāi Tai Ki Tāmaki, indicating that spiritual elements will not be included in Cultural Impact Assessments provided by his iwi. Yesterday the Taxpayers’ Union launched its briefing paper on the controversial Mana Whenua ‘Cultural Impact Assessment’ provisions contained in Auckland’s Unitary Plan. Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, says:

“Auckland Council has created a regime that allows the nineteen Mana Whenua groups to hold up, amend, or in some cases prevent, resource consents for purely metaphysical and spiritual reasons.”

“We all agree that historic sites need to be protected. But as exposed in our Briefing Paper, the Council has put in place onerous requirements affecting 18,000 plus Auckland property owners. The Council didn't bother to check whether the sites even exist. Worse, the Council widened the meaning of historic significance to include ‘metaphysical’ health which, incredibly, forces consent applicants to get expert opinions on the make-believe. Iwi groups are unfortunately stuck in the middle.”

"We welcome Mr Brown’s commitment on behalf of Ngai Tai ki Tamaki not to use these bizarre provisions of the Taniwha Tax. We hope that the other eighteen Mana Whenua groups will follow Ngai Tai ki Tamaki's lead.”

The Taxpayers' Union Briefing Paper, jointly launched yesterday with the Auckland Property Investors Association, Democracy Action and the Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance, is available for download here.

ENDS

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