First test of UN Indigenous Rights Declaration about to be made

Even as the ink as drying on the Government’s signature on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, a test case is looming that is likely to establish how strong the Government’s commitment is to the agreement.

Leader of the Ngapuhi hapu of Te Matarahurahu – David Rankin – is preparing papers to submit to the Crown and the United Nations, requesting that his ancestral land – currently occupied by the Treaty Grounds at Waitangi - be returned to his hapu.

Te Matarahurahu already have a claim for the land lodged with the Waitangi Tribunal, but Mr. Rankin intends using article 32 of the Declaration, which requires the state to obtain ‘free and intelligent consent’ before doing anything that affects the land of indigenous people.

“We have proven in evidence presented to the Tribunal that the Treaty Grounds belong to Te Matarahurahu”, says Mr Rankin, “ and in the absence of any Government evidence that they obtained our free and intelligent consent to take this territory over, we assert our rights to reclaim it under Article 32 of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People”.

“The world will be watching how the Government handles this case”, adds Mr. Rankin, “and if the Government appears unable to live up to its commitment, there are bound to be repercussions, not only internationally, but internally as well’.

ENDS

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