Waiheke Island marina plan drives wedge between Māori groups
Tuesday, 12 December 2017
Waiheke Island Māori leaders are railing against Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust for not joining their opposition to a planned marina.
Piritahi Marae trust member Paora Toi Te Rangiuaia said he was 'really angry' that the iwi trust, which has mana whenua status on the island, has not supported groups that are trying to stop a 186-berth marina being built at Kennedy Point on Waiheke.
The island's marae has joined the appeal by SKP (Save Kennedy Point) against Kennedy Point Boatharbour Limited's plans to construct a marina and floating car park that would occupy 7.3 hectares of Putiki Bay. Island resident Ron Walden has also lodged an appeal.
Five representatives from the Waiheke marae have made written statements to the Environment Court, which will hold a hearing over the marina plans from February 26, 2018.
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Marae representative and deputy chairperson of SKP Kathryn Ngapo said in her evidence that the iwi trust appears to have an economic interest in choosing not to object to the marina plans.
'We have been told by the Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust that they may have an economic interest in berths in this marina.
'I grieve that Ngāti Paoa does not oppose this marina,' Ngapo said.
Piritahi Marae is not affiliated with any particular tribe, while Ngāti Paoa Iwi Trust has tribal centres based at marae in Kaiaua, Pukorokoro and Tahuna. As mana whenua for an area including Waiheke, Ngāti Paoa is consulted over developments that impact on the tribe.
The iwi trust did not wish to comment on its position regarding the marina plans.
The trust's views on the marina application were kept confidential by an Auckland Council hearing panel that granted consent for the development in May.
A summary provided by the marina company stated the iwi trust sees a number of positive effects, such as the potential for waka berthing facilities at the marina.
However, the trust raised concerns about the impact of noise from construction on marine mammals and the need to treat contaminated stormwater from the floating car park.
The marina company has agreed to involve the iwi trust in final management plans.
Ngapo said many Māori who regard themselves as ahi kā, or keepers of the home fires, oppose the development.
She argued the marina would degrade the bay, which is dotted with sites of ecological and historical significance, such as pa sites.
Her main concern is heavy metals in antifouling paints used on boats in the marina could pollute Putiki Bay and nearby bays, making swimming and fishing unsafe.
The marina plans feature a floating car park 130 metres long and 20 metres wide and buildings on floating concrete pontoons, including a marina office and a building for community use.
Ngapo is concerned high winds could destroy the marina structures and pose a 'significant ecological risk to the bay'.
Te Rangiuaia said the majority of Waiheke residents and many Ngāti Paoa members oppose the development, but the 'top table' of the iwi trust has decided to 'stand on the heads of others' in order to develop resources for their people.
'The loss of our cultural landscape because of this marina development is something we deem unacceptable and if Piritahi Marae had been consulted by the developer, we would have told them this at the outset.
'It is with great sadness that we learn that the Ngāti Paoa top table has decided to undermine our joint efforts without prior kōrero.
'Their decision to date not to oppose the marina has, I feel, changed the good relationships we have built over the past years and by their deeds, damaged the community's own perspective, leaving a legacy of distrust,' Te Rangiuaia said in his written evidence.
He said the marina would involve 'private empire building within the public commons'.
Marae representative Maikara Ropata said the development is 'totally culturally inappropriate' because holding tanks for greywater and sewage would be in the seabed.
Huhana Davis from the marae said she is particularly worried about increased traffic past schools and childcare centres on Donald Bruce Road to access the marina.
Marina company director Tony Mair said more than 700 expressions of interest have been received from people interested in a berth.
'This is an exciting development which will provide a user-friendly facility for the boaties and residents of Waiheke and Auckland,' Mair said.
The marina would have six-metre wide floating concrete breakwaters, allowing better water flow than rock breakwaters, and no dredging or reclamation would be required, the company stated.
Sewage pump out facilities would be available to berth owners and the public.
Kennedy Point Marina Supporters group has formed to back the plans.
Supporter's group chairperson Todd Parkin, who lives in Kingsland but owns a property in Palm Beach, said the group has 155 paid members who mostly own properties on the island and are interested in buying berths.
Ngapo said SKP, a community group that formed to appeal the marina approval, has raised about $125,000 but needs a further $100,000 for the Environment Court battle.
The island community raised more than $430,000 to fight an application from Waiheke Marinas Limited to build a marina at Matiatia that was turned down in December 2015.
Waiheke Marinas Limited was put into liquidation owing hundreds of thousands of dollars in court costs.