[19], When in 1941 the Crown no longer needed Bastion Point for defence, it did not return the land to its traditional Mori owners but instead gifted it to the Auckland City Council for a reserve. That positive outlook sees New Zealand ranked as the eighth-most-happy country in the 2019 UN World Happiness Report for the seventh year in a row, the only nation outside Europe in the top 10. It is good to remember and reflect on what would have happened if it hadnt been for Bastion Point, says Nanaia Mahuta. In 1873 the Native Land Court stated that "the land shall be inalienable." Apart from a quarter acre section (where the urup, or cemetery, was situated) Ngti Whtua o Orkei was landless. When the crown enters into negotiations over what they call settlements, I think its a misnomer, says Jackson. 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. One of the powerful myth-themes of New Zealand society is racial harmony, derived from Hobson's statement at Waitangi that Maori and Pakeha were joined as one by the treaty. Its charming surroundings draw a considerable number of visitors each year. 5 Why was Bastion Point important to New Zealand? The treaty is one source of New Zealands constitutional system, however the documents Mori translation has been contentious since its inception. the Government had mismanaged the land at Orakei and had gone against the treaty of Waitangi by acquiring the land, and evicting the people from Bastion Point and destroying their settlement. rkei Local Board, Auckland Council. New Zealands government realized that the coastal land was important for the growth of Auckland and began confiscating it for public use in the mid-1800s. By continuing to use this site, you consent to the terms of our cookie policy, which can be found in our. Then, in the mid-19th century, during the Russian Scare, the land was given to the Crown. And their management was, as usual, expedient and not particularly honourable. 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. The looting and subsequent burning of Kororreka shook the settler population. 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. Over 40 years later, just over a week ago, Joe Hawke's daughter, Sharon, told a crowd on Bastion Point that the late great Denis Hansen had derided Eddie. Just off that point was Bastion Rock, which was levelled and is now the site of the Tamaki Yacht Club. The destination is also known for water sports, especially kayaking. Jackson says the governments solution was typical of the way in which it deals with Mori land rights. The incensed rkei Mori met Savage on his return from overseas, and he immediately reversed the decision, avoiding what could have been a political crisis. The government did not return the land to the Ngti Whtua iwi after the supposed threat passed, instead giving it to the local government. Since 1975, Mori have been able to reclaim land through a tribunal but its reach is limited and now they are exploring other options. Five hundred and six days later, police and army arrived en masse to remove them. "Bastion Point is Mori land. 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. the latest updates from ourcolleaguesat BBC News, measure national progress in wellbeing targets, The unexpected philosophy Icelanders live by, Where San Francisco's spirit of tolerance came from, Global attention once again turned to the nation, sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter. RMN10-1) Led by Joe Hawke, the rkei Mori Action Committee occupied Takaparawh (Bastion Point reserve), a promontory overlooking Auckland's Waitemat Harbour. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. New Zealand was placed in complete lockdown to stop the spread of Covid-19 across the country (Credit: Bradley White/Getty Images). When did the Maori get Bastion Point back? Today is a celebration of the courage of those men and women who held out for over 500 days until they were forcibly removed. Thousands gathered in support after occupiers were served with a trespass notice in 2019. "Our Land is not to be sold," Sharon says. More than a year later, in May 1978, the government won a court injunction to remove the occupiers. The illumination of the past showed the need not just for a settlement of present claims, but a better law for the future. Takaparawhau / Bastion Point seen from the fishing pier jutting out into the Waitemat Harbour. That has overtaken the importance of the progressive initiative in a lot of cases.. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Bastion Point was originally a Mori fishing village surrounded by rich farming land. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The occupants were served with trespass notices and a large police presence moved in. Read more. Savage Memorial, Auckland. Treaties arent meant to be settled. Why is Bastion Point significance to New Zealand? 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 Orakei Action Group, led by Joe Hawke, had begun occupation of Bastion Point in January 1977. Protesters lived in tents and other makeshift dwellings, built a temporary meeting hall, and grew vegetables on the land. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. What was the impact of the 1977 Bastion Point occupation? The suburb's beach is a popular resort, located alongside Tamaki Drive. Land like the plot at Ihumtao is not subject to the Tribunals authority and, were it developed, one deed would turn into hundreds, further alienating the traditional owners. 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 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. 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. Pania Newton, a recent law graduate, moved . 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 travel information and stories specifically related to coronavirus, please readthe latest updates from ourcolleaguesat BBC News. Other attractions located within 3 kilometres from Bastion Point can also be explored over a one-day trip. 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. Cabs are easily available on hire from the railway station. Gross, built above the disused Fort Britomart. In 1975, Dame Whina Cooper led a march of more than 1,000km from the northern point of New Zealand to the capital Wellington to deliver a petition protesting the ongoing loss of Mori land. Improved homework resources designed to support a variety of curriculum subjects and standards. 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. Without land, Mori political authority was substantially neutered. That whole process flies in the face of what a treaty is meant to be. Joseph Parata Hawke It is also popular for its tranquil, clean and pollution-free atmosphere. What did Bill Rowling think of the march? In 1971 members disrupted events on Waitangi Day, and the next year they staged a walkout from the ceremony at Waitangi. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The subjects covered everything from very specific local problems to Where should I start working out out of shape? Why did Whina Cooper lead the land march? 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.. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The protest and the subsequent government handling of the occupation brought international attention to the Mori land situation. The outpost was not built on Takaparawha Point, which had earlier been taken by the Government for the same purpose. People can visit the Tamaki River, Waitemata Harbour, Mission Bay Beach, M J Savage Memorial Park, Sea Life Kelly Tarltons Aquarium, etc. Bastion Point is a scenic destination located in Orakei, Auckland, New Zealand. English navigator Captain James Cook arrived in 176970. How big was Bastion Point when it was built? In the report which it produced in 1987 the tribunalrecommendedthe return of Bastion point to its rightful owners, Ngati Whatua. Initially planned for Waitangi Day in February, the government pushed the announcement back until December, before revealing the land would be bought from Fletcher using $30m from the Land for Housing program. It can be a messy business putting a toddler to bed.. The area is significant in New Zealand history as the site of protests by Mori against forced land alienation by pkeh (European settlers) in the late 1970s. There were a number of key significant causes of the Bastion Point Protest of 1977-78. After the end of the occupation, Ngti Whtua filed claims to the Waitangi Tribunal, which the government largely accepted. 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. Bastion Point (Mori: Takaparawhau) is a coastal piece of land in Orakei, Auckland, New Zealand, overlooking the Waitemat 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. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The protest is famously known as the Maori Protest which went for 506 days. The march was to cover 700 miles in 30 days and marchers would stop overnight at 25 different maraes. 1 July 1988 Bastion Point land returned The government announced that it had agreed to the Waitangi Tribunals recommendation that Takaparawh (Bastion Point) on the southern shore of Aucklands Waitemat Harbour be returned to local iwi Ngti Whtua. [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. It does not store any personal data. We don't have hate crimes to the extent that you would findin European countries, he said. 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 Bastion and the Searchlight Emplacements, info panel. 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. After 506 days of protest at Bastion Point, 222 people were arrested for trespassing on what was, for the majority, ancestral land. When was Bastion Point returned to Waitangi? The whole settlement process came about because of pressure from our people, and so in the end I think the movement for change will be unstoppable., New Zealand health chief slams gutless racism against Pasifika people over Covid cluster, Tiny New Zealand airport that tells Mori love story in running for global design award, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Bastion Point was Mori ancestral land belonging to the Ngti Whtua iwi (tribe), but the New Zealand government began confiscating it in the mid-19th century. The protest ended when the government sent in police to clear the protesters and demolish their makeshift homes. Other than the summer, people could find the spring season worth visiting the destination too i.e. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is known for her compassionate approach to politics, as demonstrated after the 2019 Christchurch mosques attack (Credit: Handout/Getty Images). The protest contributed to the cause of other movements such as the occupation of Bastion Point in 1978. When William Hobson, then-governor of New Zealand, founded Auckland in 1840, the produce of Ihumtao sustained the growing population. released 96 reports ranging from brief judicial findings to large reports. Copyright 2023 MassInitiative | All rights reserved. New Zealand's central bank has raised its benchmark interest rate by a half-point to 4.75% as it continues trying to wrestle down inflation Show More Summary Read a brief summary of this topic Wellington Harbour New Zealand, Mori Aotearoa, island country in the South Pacific Ocean, the southwesternmost part of Polynesia. 40 years ago the eviction of protesters from Bastion Point or Takaparawhau in Auckland triggered the beginning of the new era in land rights, says the Minister of Mori Development the Hon Nanaia Mahuta. Independence 1947 - New Zealand gains full independence from Britain. 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. For those flying in from other countries, airport cabs and airport shuttles are available to take you to the destination. 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