A schism within a Te Atiawa hapu in New Plymouth is coming to a head with Maori Land Court ordering hapu members removal from their own land, ending a protest occupation near a now disused sewage treatment plant on what was previously Maori land.
The political dispute is over land taken under the Public Works Act for a sewage treatment plant near Bell Block. It ceased operation in the mid-1980s. Some members of the Te Atiawa Puketapu hapu demand return of the land to iwi ownership, supporting their views with a long-running land occupation.
The Maori Land Court was told named individuals who whakapapa to Puketapu hapu have been occupying nearby Maori reserve land, living in make-shift dwellings, a house bus, re-purposed containers and tents.
They ignored pleas from trustees of the reserve land that they leave.
Judge Warren issued a permanent injunction banning named individuals from the site.
Staying on site without trustees’ approval amounted to trespass.
Hapu members rights to occupy the reserved land extended to occasional customary use only.
Trustees were authorised to remove all structures left on the land.
Puketapu E Maori Reservation v. Knuckey – Maori Land Court (25.05.26)
26.164