Erebus memorial: Protesters pack up and leave, but vow to keep guard of Auckland park

Saturday, 27 November 2021

Watch a video of the Te Paerangi Ataata – Sky Song design, which shows how the memorial design will appear in the natural landscape of Dove-Myer Robinson Park.

Protesters camping at the planned Mt Erebus memorial have packed up and left before being evicted - but say they will continue to guard the area.

Auckland Council issued the group an eviction notice on Thursday, giving them 48 hours to remove any property and vacate Auckland’s Dove-Myer Robinson Park, also known as the Parnell Rose Gardens, by noon Saturday.

The have now removed their camp.

Construction for the memorial, named Te Paerangi Ataata – Sky Song, was due to start in October but was delayed by protesters after they set up camp on the site and blocked developers’ vehicles.

The protesters believe there should be a memorial to honour the 257 people who died in the country’s worst air crash in 1979, but not at the Parnell park, which they say will become a place of mourning rather than joy.

**READ MORE:

Protesters who say the Erebus disaster memorial should be built elsewhere packed up their tents on Saturday.

* Erebus memorial: Protesters handed eviction notices, tents pulled down

* Erebus memorial: Start of construction rebuffed at contentious Auckland site

* Clashes predicted as work on Erebus memorial set to begin

Artist's impression of Erebus National Memorial in Dove-Myer Robinson Park, Parnell, Auckland.

* Protesters occupy site, but Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei supports Erebus memorial

They also fear construction would damage the roots of a nearby 200-year-old pōhutukawa. Manatū Taonga - the Ministry of Culture and Heritage (MCH), which is leading the project, rejects the concern.

Dame Rangimārie Naida Glavish said the group would continue to guard the site.

On Saturday morning, three large tents remained at the site. A pair of women, who were not connected to the protesters, were doing yoga among the branches of the giant pōhutukawa.

Protester Roger Burton was guarding one of the park’s entrances. He told Stuff the group would be removing tents over the morning.

But asked if the group would be moving on from the site, Māori leader Dame Rangimārie Naida Glavish (Ngāti Whātua) said: “Hell no”.

Auckland Council removed several of the protester’s smaller tents on Thursday before issuing the group with an eviction notice for the remaining bigger tents.

“There is no way that we will be moving on for as long as there is an intent to put that monstrosity there.

“We will hold down the fort.”

She said it was disrespectful that Auckland Council and MCH would dare breach the rāhui (ban) placed over the site by kaumātua (elders), especially given Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) came before the Erebus disaster.

“That site has got nothing to do with Erebus. They are the ones trying to make it something to do with Erebus.”

She added there are family members of Erebus victims among the protesters, including Margaret Brough, who started a petition against the memorial being built at the park. The petition, with 12,000 signatures, was presented to Parliament in May.

Auckland Council general manager of parks, sports and recreation Mace Ward said the eviction notice was to ensure the health and safety of contractors and the public once construction begins.

Asked if the council would be enforcing the eviction notice on Saturday, Ward said staff would not be on site, in respect of the Erebus disaster’s 42nd anniversary on Sunday.

“However, we will liaise with the police and MCH on Monday to discuss next steps should the protestors refuse to disperse.”

MCH chief executive Bernadette Cavanagh said it was up to Auckland Council to enforce the eviction notice, but that it supported any decisions that keep Erebus families “at the heart” of the project.

The organisation remains committed to preparing the site for the memorial as soon as possible,' she said.

“It’s particularly disappointing to see a small number of protesters continue to behave in this disruptive manner during what is an especially difficult time for Erebus families, many of whom are eager to see this memorial finally built.”