Jacinda Ardern's response to Ihumātao is a potentially career-defining mistake

Wednesday, 31 July 2019

Will Ihumātao be for Jacinda Ardern what the Seabed and Foreshore Act was for Helen Clark?

OPINION: The mess occurring in Ihumātao is a sad day for New Zealand. The most fundamental right democratic countries have is the ability to own, occupy, and to most extents, do what we will with our private property. It seems Ihumātao is the exception.

Fletcher Building has rightfully owned the 33 hectare site in Mangere since 2016. The land is currently a Special Housing Area, to deal with the chronic housing catastrophe Auckland is enduring. Three significant institutions have given Fletcher the green light to move forward with the project: The Overseas Investment Office, Heritage New Zealand Pohere Taonga and the Environment Court. Simply put - they have overcome the red tape.

Jacinda Ardern is 'doing what she thinks is empathetic, rather than what is right'.

Initially, Jacinda Ardern stayed clear of the mess, but on Friday she made a potentially career-defining mistake. Our Prime Minister has decided to open a majestic can of worms. She has given the protesters a leg to stand on, when they should have packed their bags long ago. Ardern vowed that there would be no building until a settlement can be reached. The question must be raised: How can the Prime Minister have executive powers to stop a private company from pursuing their agenda, when they have passed every piece of red-tape?

* Construction has halted at Ihumātao, but the protesters won't be stopping anytime soon

* The real reason Fletchers is building at Ihumātao**

She has essentially set the precedent that, as a landowner, if your neighbour does not agree with how you are using your land, they are able to trespass and occupy that land illegally. This is an undeniable embarrassment to our functioning democracy.

Iwi and Fletcher Building came to an agreement regarding the land. Ardern has offered the protesters a say, in a matter which does not remotely concern her or them. Ardern should be grateful that Fletcher, as a private entity, are willing and able to build houses which her government has failed to do for the last 18 months under Kiwibuild.

The debacle in Ihumātao shouldn't be a debacle at all. The facts are clear. Fletcher Building owns the land, and in a fully functioning democracy they are able to occupy and build on the land how they see fit, so long as it meets regulations (which it has).

Ardern's decision to give the protesters a seat at the table shows her weakness. She is doing what she thinks is empathetic, rather than what is right.

Many argue the downfall of Helen Clark in the 2008 election was her decision to sanction the Foreshore and Seabed Act, only time will tell if Ardern suffers the same fate in 2020.

Kishan Naran is a political science graduate from the University of Otago, and completed a summer internship for David Seymour.