The illumination of the past showed the need not just for a settlement of present claims, but a better law for the future. If you liked this story,sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newslettercalled "The Essential List". The eventual announcement of a resolution last year was anti-climatic, Newton says. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. How does Bastion Point link to the Treaty of Waitangi? New Zealand was not conquered but founded on a treaty between Mori and the Crown (Credit: Martin Vlnas/Getty Images). The official website of the New Zealand Government. [24][25], Joe Hawke died on 22 May 2022, aged 82 and was buried at Takaparawhau, the land he fought to return to his iwi.[26][27]. . Ten years later, the Waitangi Tribunal supported Maori claims to the land, a decision that. Protestors gather at Ihumtao in July 2019. They did not seek the return of the whole block. Why is Bastion Point significance to New Zealand? It also spurred Mori activism over land issues in other parts of the country. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Those wanting to take a train to reach Auckland can check for trains heading to Strand Railway Station in Auckland. rkei Local Board, Auckland Council. On May 25, 1978, the New Zealand government sent in hundreds of police and army officers to evict protestors at Bastion Point, in what was the largest internal mobilisation in New Zealands history. Mori initially welcomed Europeans. There are gardens, lawns, meadows and several other beautiful features that make Bastion Point an Aucklander's favourite haunt. However, in the 1970s Mori groups became politically active. New Zealanders prize modesty, and are suspicious of anyone who seems to consider themselves better than others; hence what is called Tall Poppy Syndrome: chopping down someone who thinks they are a cut above the crowd. the Crown Who is the rightful owner of Bastion Point? Two hundred and twenty two protesters were arrested. Mission Bay is located seven kilometres to the east of the city centre, on the southern shore of the Waitemat Harbour, between rkei and Kohimarama. Pania Newton, a recent law graduate, moved into a caravan on the site in November 2016, determined to stop the planned development. We never post anything without your permission. What gland increases contractions during labor? By the late 1830s European settlers were arriving in New Zealand by the hundreds. The area is significant in New Zealand history as the site of protests in the late 1970s by Mori against forced land alienation by Pkeh (European settlers). Most Mori believe that sovereignty was never ceded to the crown. )[5], During World War II, three searchlights were housed in emplacements built at the foot of Bastion Point, and still exist today. This was an important moment in defining Mori land rights. The area is significant in New Zealand history as the site of protests in the late 1970s by Mori against forced land alienation by pkeh (European settlers). The 1977 -1978 Bastion Point protest had a significant impact on New Zealand society and many New Zealanders, the protest mainly had a significant impact on the Maori community and would be a catalyst for a number of changes in government policy in regard to the return of Maori land. In 1988 the government agreed with the Waitangi Tribunals recommendation and gave Takaparawhau back to the Ngti Whtua. The best time to visit Bastion Point is during the summer season which begins in the month of December and lasts till February. Bastion Point was one part of the 700-acre Orkei Blocka site of protest since1898 when the newly established Native Land Court divided the bulk of the block into individual title, effectively ending communal ownership for the hap. It does not store any personal data. When William Hobson, then-governor of New Zealand, founded Auckland in 1840, the produce of Ihumtao sustained the growing population. So, the maximum temperature hovers around 19C while the minimum remains around 8.5C. Sound file from Radio New Zealand Sound Archives Ng Taonga Krero. Today is a celebration of the courage of those men and women who held out for over 500 days until they were forcibly removed. The treaty today - What went wrong and what are we doing about it? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 1 Why did the government take Bastion Point? The Bastion Point protest had a significant impact on the Maori community as it showed Maori that many New Zealanders were concerned with their land grievances, and paved the way for Maori tribes to deal with their land grievances in a way that was fair and just. Bastion Point was one part of the 700-acre Orkei Blocka site of protest since 1898 when the newly established Native Land Court divided the bulk of the block into individual title, effectively ending communal ownership for the hap. Bastion Point overlooks Waitemat Harbour in the northwestern part of the North Island. The Mori translation, Te Tiriti, granted governorship to the crown, and promised Mori tino rangatiratanga a term which can be interpreted as absolute sovereignty over their land, as opposed to the exclusive and undisturbed possession granted in the English translation. The tribunal stated that those who had occupied Bastion Point, were breaching the treaty as they were acting outside of the law. But how did such a remote country come to have such apparently progressive politics? There are landscaped gardens, lawns, dense natural vegetation and several monuments including the historical monuments that travellers can explore. Why was Bastion Point important to New Zealand? Its charming surroundings draw a considerable number of visitors each year. Leading constitutional lawyer Dr Moana Jackson says this confiscation, and others like them, formed the beginnings of the New Zealand banking system and colonial economy. In 1886, the Crown used the Public Works Act 1882 (46 Vict No 37) to take ownership of 13 acres (5.3 ha) of Bastion Point for this purpose of defence. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Raglan golf course. "Our Land is not to be sold," Sharon says. From the city centre, Bastion Point is located about 3 kilometres away and can be accessed via this route Federal Street Wyndham Street Albert Street Customs Street W Customs Street E Commerce Street Quay Street. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". This documentary examines the rich and tragic history of Bastion Point/Takaparawhau including how questionable methods were used to gradually . In three years, the 39-year-old has risen from a minor player in the low-polling opposition Labour Party to a global figure on Time magazines list of the worlds 100 most influential people. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The firm planned to build almost 500 houses on the plot a goldmine in Auckland, where the nations housing crisis has seen prices increase to more than 10 times the average annual income. I think there are some people who still hold to that it lasted a very long time and thats the base-level of the notion of New Zealand identity, Moon said. Some of these attractions are North Head Historic Reserve, Mount Victoria Reserve, St. Helliers Bay, Devonport and Torpedo Bay Navy Museum. The new housing was never built and under a Treaty of Waitangi settlement much of the land was returned to Ngti Whtua. Bastion Point was the land of the Ngati Whatua which is a Maori tribe of New Zealand. Several tour buses often make a pitstop at the harbour for it provides a great view of the river. and Bastion Point in Auckland. And their management was, as usual, expedient and not particularly honourable. The value of land to Mori is more than economic. Local Mori were certain they would be priced out, despite Fletchers assurances that a number of homes would be reserved. The concern was, This is an important right because it will enfranchise women or be more representative, more democratic and so on. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". In 197778 a 506-day protest against a proposed Crown sale was held there. The 1991 rkei Act was passed to recognise the rights of Ngti Whtua rkei under the treaty. People can visit the Tamaki River, Waitemata Harbour, Mission Bay Beach, M J Savage Memorial Park, Sea Life Kelly Tarltons Aquarium, etc. By its 30th anniversary in October 2005, the Tribunal had Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to travel to New Zealand in 1642. [22], The occupation lasted for 506 days; it ended on 25 May 1978,[1] when 800 police and personnel of the New Zealand Army forcibly removed the occupiers and destroyed the temporary buildingsincluding vegetable gardens and the marae. [18] Mori from the p met Savages' body when it arrived back in Auckland in 1940. We value your privacy. Here they walk past Porirua towards their final destination, Parliament. But this woman was Jacinda Ardern, New Zealands prime minister, and the one who had decided on expert advice to go hard and go early, mandating one of the worlds earliest and toughest bans on international and internal travel and locking down her country for roughly a month from midnight on 25 March. Over time, through negotiations and a successful treaty claim, Bastion Point was returned to Ngti Whtua. Mori constitutional authority traditionally derives from an iwis rohe, or sphere of influence. It is a vast expanse of coastal land that overlooks the Waitemata Harbour. Travellers are lured here by a world of constantly changing scenery packed into a comparatively small space: primordial forest; lakes; waterfalls; fiords; active volcanoes; hot-water springs; geysers; white- and black-sand beaches; alps and glaciers. The occupation of Bastion Point lasted 506 days. It was quickly apparent that they would need to create or repair machines from whatever scrap was lying around. Another motive for their proposal was to weaken Bill Endean's grip on Parnell, the only non-Labour seat in Auckland. CORRECTION:A previous version of this story had the incorrect start date of New Zealand's nationwide lockdown. Panorama showing the annual Manu Aute Kite Day, held on Takaparawhau on the first Matariki long weekend, June 2022. And Jackson believes constitutional change is already in motion. "[15][16], In 1936 rkei was proposed as a site for state housing by the First Labour Government, and in August a Mori delegation asked Prime Minister Savage that at least the marae on the flat foreshore where he had been ceremonially welcomed after his election should be retained by the tribe. Bastion Point - The Untold Story - In 1977 protesters occupied Bastion Point, after the announcement of a housing development on land once belonging to Ngti Whtua. Aerial Shot of Bastion Point as it looks today. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The treaty partnership and prominence of te reo Mori (one of New Zealand's three official languages, alongside English and signing) indicate little racial tension. The Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840 by the British Crown and many Mori chiefs, was meant to be a partnership between Mori and the Crown. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 1950 - Troops from New Zealand serve with UN forces in the 1950-53 Korean War. When the crown enters into negotiations over what they call settlements, I think its a misnomer, says Jackson. A justification for this eviction was health and sanitation issues, for which the government was ultimately responsible. European settlement on Mori land caused conflict, and Mori began to resist European occupation. areas. The Orakei block ought to have been reserved in tribal ownership and control forever. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. It allowed the British to take formal control of New Zealand. Ngti Whtua sought British protection from Ngpuhi as well as a reciprocal relationship with the Crown and the Church. However, the Europeans brought guns, disease, and Western agricultural methods, all of which threatened Mori culture and social structure. 3 What did Bill Rowling think of the march? While the multicultural nation continues to pass socially progressive laws marriage equality, decriminalising prostitution, treating abortion as a health not criminal issue Moon senses a change in motivation. The protest contributed to the cause of other movements such as the occupation of Bastion Point in 1978. In the 1975 hkoi (stepping out), protesters marched from Northland to Wellington to ask the government to halt further losses of Mori land. Protesters occupied Bastion Point (Takaparawh) in Auckland in January 1977 after the government announced a housing development on former Ngti Whtua reserve land. Fletchers Building planned to construct 500 houses on the land after buying it in 2016. However this came at the cost of $200,000. By the end of 1978 the Governments offer was accepted by Ngati Whatua, upon acceptance they received 13 acres and 27 state houses, this land and houses were given to the newly formed Orakei Maori Trust Board. What did Bill Rowling think of the march? It is good to remember and reflect on what would have happened if it hadnt been for Bastion Point, says Nanaia Mahuta. When did the Maori get Bastion Point back? 2 What happened during the 1975 land march? Numerous attempts to restore tribal ownership were made over the following decades, through the Mori Land Court, the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the Compensation Court, and through 15 petitions to Parliament, all without success. Area of coastal land in Auckland, New Zealand. Its proximity andtales of the past make it a great picnic spot for the locals. New Zealands Mori are using occupations to reclaim land taken from them by confiscation or inequitable purchases. They set the terms of the negotiation, they set the parameters, they even have standard statements of apology that iwi are asked to choose from. How can we avoid the occurrence of weld porosity? Global attention once again turned to the nation: while there was some criticism over how the government reacted, others said New Zealand offered a model response of empathy, clarity and trust in science. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Watch Bastion Point: the untold story (1999), from NZ On Screen: Why was there a protest at Bastion Point? New Zealands location in a geologically active region means travellers can visit hot springs, geysers and sulphuric pools (Credit: MLenny/Getty Images). (This was the last 60 acres (24.3ha) of uncommitted land at rkei that Ngti Whtua rkei still hoped to get back. Why was Bastion Point important to New Zealand? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The Land March in 1975 was significant to New Zealand because it reflected that our country cared about our spiritual values. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. As punishment after their defeat, the crowns troops forced the local iwi, Te Wai-o-Hua, off the land, which was sold to settlers and turned into a private farm. What was the impact of the 1977 Bastion Point occupation? This led to the occupation of Bastion Point. People can pack apicnic and head to this serene location for a day-long outing with friends and family and also exploreother attractions nearby. [17] In November 1936 Lee had assured Walter Nash that the Mori would be removed without much difficulty; but they refused, and were supported by the Clergy Association, the Protestant churches, the Anglican Bishop, the Friends of Orakei and the New Zealand Observer. It has large columns, sunken gardens and a reflecting pool which was built in two years by Fletcher Construction for 34,533, with the cost raised by subscription. With no ability to reclaim the land through the channels of the tribunal, the owners at Ihumtao began an occupation in the tradition of those at Whaingaroa, on the west coast, and Bastion Point in Auckland. The Polynesian Panther Party (PPP) was a revolutionary social justice movement formed to target racial inequalities carried out against indigenous Mori and Pacific Islanders in Auckland, New Zealand. The 180 protesters yet to be prosecuted were dismissed without charge, and those who had been convicted appealed their sentences, and all convictions were dropped by the end of 1979. Looking east along Biddicks Bay towards Takaparawha showing Bastion Rock, since demolished, 1901. Two years ago, a small pocket of land three kilometres from Aucklands international airport became the most prominent site of a struggle by Mori, New Zealands indigenous people, to reclaim land confiscated by the crown more than 150 years ago. In the same survey, Wellington was ranked as the third-happiest city. On 28 April, after five weeks of that severe lockdown, Ardern eased the restrictions slightly, announcing that her country had done what few countries have been able to do and contained the community spread of Covid-19. For those flying in from other countries, airport cabs and airport shuttles are available to take you to the destination. between September and November. These causes dated back to the mid 1800's and the occupation itself all stemmed from issues surrounding the loss of land Ngati Whatua as a result of rulings by the Native Land Court and the early New Zealand government. [14] The occupiers constructed a marae and housing, and grew crops. The New York Times described her as the progressive antithesis to right-wing strongmen like Trump, Orban and Modi. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. City tours also cover this location along with a tour through Auckland City, but it might not be the best way to experience Bastion Point. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Without the land, the phrase tangata whenua becomes a poetic expression rather than a statement of belonging.. Was the Bastion Point protest successful? Treaties arent meant to be settled. Social and racial stresses arose from widely differing interpretations of the treaty, which led to 135 years of conflict and grievance until the document was enshrined in law in 1975 and a truth and reconciliation commission formed. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The crown doesnt do things unless there is pressure, says Jackson. [1] Takaparawhau is now the site of the private rkei Marae, the public Michael Joseph Savage Memorial, and privately-owned reserve land that is accessible to the public. It built on the actions of Dame Whina Cooper who had earlier led the hikoi over land in 1975. . Aotearoa, to use New Zealand's Mori name, is not Utopia. In 1977-78 a 506-day protest against a proposed Crown sale was held there. Britannica does not review the converted text. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The British negotiated the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 with Mori. They know deep down.. Savage Memorial, Auckland. Joe Hawke, members of his hap Ngti Whtua rkei, and other activists, formed the Orakei Mori Action Committee, taking direct action to stop the subdivision. Although it is summertime in Auckland, the region does receive occasional showers. By 1859, Ngti Whtua rkei, who had given two further land tuku of 13,200 acres (5,342 hectares) to the Crown, had lost most of their remaining land through speculators. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. But occupations though participants call themselves protectors rather than protesters or occupiers similar to that in Ihumtao have increasingly cropped up across New Zealand, in Pukeihua, Mount Crawford, Waiheke Island and Shelly Bay in Wellington. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Your details are safe with us. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. For several days there was a tense standoff. However the tribunal did not only lay blame with the government, they also made negative comments about the actions of Joe Hawke and the protestors who occupied the land at Bastion Point. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. To this day, New Zealanders like to see themselves as practical, coping with anything thrown at them, with good life skills and a cooperative can-do spirit. On May the 25th 1978, police and army evicted 222 people from the waterfront reserve after a 506 day standoff. Ihumtao contains evidence of New Zealands first commercial gardens, where thousands of hectares were planted with kumara, a tropical sweet potato which thrived in the warm and nutritious soil. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The defendants and their supporters marched from Bastion Point to court in downtown Auckland, in an act of unity and to show that they would not give up their opposition to construction at Bastion Point, and that they would continue to advocate for the land to be returned to them. The 1991 rkei Act was passed to recognise the rights of Ngti Whtua rkei under the Treaty. From the drop point, it requires a commute of about 1.2 kilometres to reach the destination. About 92 to 93 years later, a historical protest was held against a proposed sale of the land by the Maori iwi tribe. Joe Hawke, who had helped to form the rkei Mori Action Committee to settle Ngti Whtua land issues with the government, led the occupation. At the same time the village at kahu Bay was not connected to the city's fresh water supply. These issues were created by the city council earlier when a sewer line and road were built along the foreshore which blocked the flow of storm water, creating the quagmire of sanitation problems. Never has, never will." Just like Thomas King, she understands the appeal and magic of the land - for natives, and non-natives. Unlike other British colonies, the islands were not conquered, but founded on a treaty between Mori and the Crown: the 1840 Te Tiriti o Waitangi / Treaty of Waitangi. Looking north east along kahu Bay towards Takaparawhau, showing the sewer line in course of construction, 1910. The 1977 Bastion Point occupation was a case example of Maori land issues throughout the country, a symbol of plight of indigenous minorities throughout the world. A settlement which was much more comprehensive, followed on in 1991, and what land that could be returned to the tribe, was returned. The pou has the shape of a taurapa (the stern of a waka) standing on a concrete plinth representing the toka (rock) that acted as a beacon for waka, known as Bastion Rock.[28]. Protesters lived in tents and other makeshift dwellings, built a temporary meeting hall, and grew vegetables on the land. The protest ended when the government sent in police to clear the protesters and demolish their makeshift homes. The whole idea of that relationship with the Earth mother is not some exotic, spiritual thing its actually a very practical thing, says Jackson. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright. Now Ngti Whtua is the third largest land owner in downtown Auckland. 4 What happened at Bastion Point and why? There were a number of key significant causes of the Bastion Point Protest of 1977-78. In the early 1970s, growing Mori anger over land alienation led to activism. The new housing was never built and under a Treaty of Waitangi settlement much of the land was returned to Ngti Whtua. It was misleading for the government to be pushing for it to be purchased using housing money, when clearly it could be purchased using a heritage fund, or the conservation fund, but they wanted to make it look as though there were still going to be houses on that land.. Moon explained that these notions of equality and fairness continued until the 1970s and 80s. 5 Why was Bastion Point important to New Zealand? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. One of their causes was the return of their land and payment for the governments past injustices. It also paid $3 million to Mori to assist with housing and development issues. By 1952, the last remaining residents of Orkei had been evicted from their homes and shifted into state houses. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. This documentary explores the reasons for the 1970s Maori protest movement, the 1975 Hikoi protest march, and the Occupation of Bastion Point in 1977, and also covers how . The daytime temperature during this season remains around 20C while the lowest it can touch is 14C. In 1971 members disrupted events on Waitangi Day, and the next year they staged a walkout from the ceremony at Waitangi. 2 What were the causes of the Bastion Point occupation? There have been all sorts of fish hooks in it, says Jackson. The government did not return the land to the Ngti Whtua iwi after the supposed threat passed, instead giving it to the local government. A fire in a tent on September 26, 1977 caused the death of a young girl named Joanna Hawke, the niece of protest leader Joe Hawke. [3][4][5][6] The public land containing the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial and Fort Britomart tunnels is not owned by the hap, who refer to it as Kohimarama, while Auckland Council now call it Takaparawhau. Stephen Levine, professor of political science at Victoria University of Wellington, writing in Te Ara, the nations official online encyclopaedia another world first says early British settlers and politicians were driven by notions of equality, fairness and honesty. Gross, built above the disused Fort Britomart. Ngti Whtua rkei, who own most of the land again, call it Takaparawhau, which, along with kahu Bay, form Whenua Rangatira, which is vested in Ngti Whtua rkei for the common use and benefit of Ngti Whtua rkei and citizens of Auckland, and is managed by the Ngti Whtua rkei Reserves Board. The occupation at Ihumtao, New Zealand. Without land, Mori political authority was substantially neutered. The outpost was not built on Takaparawha Point, which had earlier been taken by the Government for the same purpose. The Pacific nation, soon to reach a population of five million, lays claim to a number of social and political advances: creating indigenous parliamentary seats (1857); granting women the vote (1893); advocating an eight-hour working day (1840); state-funded old-age pensions (1898); the worlds most extensive system of pensions and welfare (1938); and its unique no-fault accident compensation scheme (1974). So, taxis and intercity buses, especially the hop-on and hop-off buses are best to reach the point from any part of Auckland. From 1890 to 1920, New Zealand was regarded by foreign observers as a social laboratory due to its progressive policy initiatives, and Arderns determination to measure national progress in wellbeing targets raising income, improving environmental and social good has been characterised as a return to that aspiration. Overwhelming the indigenous people and their culture, often at gunpoint, merchants, farmers and tradespeople (mostly from the United Kingdom) imported their view of politics and government and their chance for new lives free from Europes conflicts and prejudices. In 1976 the government proposed selling part of the Bastion Point reserve for luxury housing. We hope you and your family enjoy the NEW Britannica Kids. What happened during the 1975 land march? We had been so alienated from the land in the physical sense, and we just felt like we couldnt trust the authorities, she says. Like the Massey Memorial in Wellington, it is built on the site of a former gun emplacement dating from the 'Russian Scare' of the 1880s. The 700-acre rkei block was all that remained. It was given to the Crown by Ngti Whtua as a defence site during the Russian scare of 1885. Who was plundering and looting Kororreka Why? New Zealand, Levine writes, is not a large or powerful country but has an attractive self-image of inspiring others, leading by example, idealism and pragmatic innovation. Her empathetic leadership after the Christchurch mosques attack in March 2019 was highlighted in images of a hijab-wearing Ardern embracing Muslim New Zealanders; consoling bereaved families after the Whakaari White Island eruption that December; and addressing the UN General Assembly while fianc Clarke Gayford cuddled their four-month-old daughter Neve in September 2018. , the first reoccupation resulted in 11 arrests, and at the second reoccupation over 100 protestors were arrested. Ministers of the crown became mortgage brokers, if you like, and began offering cheap mortgages to colonisers, or giving them a reward for their part in the wars against our people.. If one can rent a cab or self-drive, they can make the most of their trip. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.