From: Paraparaumu Airport Coalition

18/4/08

Big Welcome Planned for Tariana Turia At Paraparaumu Airport

Many Maori and Pakeha supporters of a land rights claim at Paraparaumu Airport are expected to welcome the Maori Party Co-Leader, Tariana Turia, when she makes her first official visit to the airfield at noon today.

Ms Turia is supporting a claim by Te Whanau a Te Ngarara for the return of much of the Airport land to the original owners.

The Maori claim is supported by a group of Pakeha former landowners.

The land was compulsorily acquired by the Government at the start of the Second World War – but has never been offered back to the original owners.

Auckland developers have recently been granted the right by the Kapiti Coast District Council to build a business park on much of the Airport land, using the remaining land as an airfield.

Last week, Ms Turia accused the Council of ‘procedural trickery’ .

She said that by changing the District Plan in favour of the developers, it was declaring the land surplus, without triggering Public Works Act requirements for the land to be offered back to Maori.

She accused the Council of ignoring their Treaty of Waitangi obligations.

Ms Turia’s visit comes just two hours before another meeting called by Labour MP Darren Hughes to talk with the developers, the Kapiti Mayor and the Maori former landowners.

ENDS

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