109874
Public Works Takings in Tauranga Moana, a chronology
SummaryIn 2006, the Waitangi Tribunal commissioned Research Officer Wendy Hart to write a report determining if the compulsory acquisition of land by the government for public infrastructure projects had treated Māori land differently to general land. The report analysed case studies, including the Tauranga-Mount Maunganui Transmission Line, Tauranga Airport, the Port of Tauranga, and hydro-electricity schemes.
It found evidence of substantial differences, with Māori owners often facing disadvantages, such as delays in compensation and less transparent negotiation processes. General landowners typically enjoyed a more direct path to compensation and had more opportunities to negotiate with the taking authority.
The timeline below is distilled from the report "A Comparative Study of Public Works Takings in the Tauranga Moana Inquiry District" by Wendy Hart, 2006. Commissioned by the Waitangi Tribunal.Main Body
It found evidence of substantial differences, with Māori owners often facing disadvantages, such as delays in compensation and less transparent negotiation processes. General landowners typically enjoyed a more direct path to compensation and had more opportunities to negotiate with the taking authority.
The timeline below is distilled from the report "A Comparative Study of Public Works Takings in the Tauranga Moana Inquiry District" by Wendy Hart, 2006. Commissioned by the Waitangi Tribunal.Main Body
1840s: Introduction of English Legal Principles
- 1840: The Crown introduced the right to compulsorily take private land for public purposes into New Zealand following the assertion of sovereignty. Initially, only the central government had powers for compulsory acquisition.
1860s: Early Legislation Affecting Māori Land
- 1862: Native Land Act allowed the Crown to take up to 5% of Māori land without compensation.
- 1863: New Zealand Settlements Act enabled further land confiscation during wartime.
- 1868: Tauranga District Lands Act established the boundaries of the Tauranga Moana inquiry district.
1870s-1880s: Public Works Legislation and Discriminatory Practices
- 1876: Public Works Act gave local authorities compulsory acquisition powers. The legislation was viewed as discriminatory, offering little protection for Māori land compared to general land.
- 1880: Public Works Act extended compulsory acquisition to all Māori land processed through the Native Land Court.
- 1882: Public Works legislation became more rigid, with separate provisions for Māori land, making it easier to take.
Early 1900s: Development Pressures on Māori Land
- Multiple Māori land blocks in Tauranga, including Whareroa, Ohuki, and Omanu, are subject to various forms of alienation due to increasing public works development.
1930s: Tauranga Aerodrome and Land Development
- 1931: Tauranga Land Development Scheme impacts Māori land, including the Kaitīmako block.
- 1935-1939: Initial phases of Tauranga Aerodrome development, with land acquired from both Māori (Whareroa) and European owners.
1940s: Further Land Takings for Public Works
- 1940s: Further land acquisitions for the aerodrome, including runway extensions and height restrictions.
- Late 1940s: The concept of taking Māori land for "better utilisation" emerges, focusing on port development. Debates arise about the future use of the Mount Maunganui area, holiday resort vs. industrial centre.
1950s: Industrial Development and Airport Expansion
- 1951: Tauranga Harbour Board shifts focus towards industrial development, potentially ending Mount Maunganui's era as a holiday destination.
- 1952: Significant Māori land takings for "better utilisation" in the Tauranga harbour area, impacting blocks like Whareroa.
- 1952-1954: Continued land acquisition for port development, affecting both Māori and European land, with ongoing compensation negotiations.
- 1954: Māori Land Court hearings raise concerns about the fairness of land acquisition practices.
Late 1950s-1960s: Airport and Port Expansion
- 1957-1962: Crown takes further land, including Whareroa, Ohuki, and Omanu blocks, for airport expansion and height restrictions.
- 1959-1961: Negotiations and agreements between the Crown, Tauranga Borough Council, and private landowners finalise land acquisitions for the expanding airport. Public Works Act used when direct negotiations failed.
- 1962: Surplus airport land vested in Tauranga Borough Council without offering it back to Māori owners.
- 1962-1967: Tauranga Airport undergoes runway reconstruction, with ongoing debates about the suitability of Whareroa as the airport's location.
- 1966: Tauranga City Council becomes an airport authority, with powers to acquire more land for airport purposes.
1970s: Port and Road Development
- 1970: Land acquisitions for a limited access road to the port, impacting land owned by Port Services Ltd and Māori owners of the Whareroa block.
- 1970s: Continued development of the Port of Tauranga, with a shift towards industrial use.
1980s: Major Industrial Developments
- 1980s: Port of Tauranga solidifies its position as a major export port.
- 1980s: Land acquisitions for hydro-electric developments in the Tauranga region, affecting both Māori and European land, including areas for the Ruahihi Hydro-Electric Scheme and McLaren Falls development.
1990s: Waitangi Tribunal Inquiries
- 1990s: Waitangi Tribunal commissions research to investigate the impact of public works takings on Māori land. Inquiries focus on the lack of compensation, consultation, and the loss of culturally significant lands.
2000s: Tribunal Claims and Research
- 2005-2006: Various Māori groups file claims with the Waitangi Tribunal regarding public works takings in Tauranga, highlighting grievances such as inadequate compensation and lack of consultation.
- 2006: Professor Michael Belgrave reviews the Tauranga inquiry casebook and suggests a comparative study of public works takings within the inquiry district. The Waitangi Tribunal begins a focused inquiry based on specific issues raised by claimants.
Usage
Kaitiakitanga StatementWe ask that, in addition to normal copyright and privacy considerations, users of our heritage resources uphold the mana and dignity of the people, communities and places depicted within.CopyrightTe Ao Marama - Tauranga City LibrariesLicenseCC By 4.0AcknowledgementTe Ao Marama - Tauranga City Libraries, Public Works Takings in Tauranga Moana, a chronology.
Location
LocationTauranga Moana
Admin
AuthorTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City LibrariesType of ContributionLibrary storyTaxonomyStories | Events
Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries, Public Works Takings in Tauranga Moana, a chronology. Pae Korokī, accessed 18/02/2025, https://paekoroki.tauranga.govt.nz/nodes/view/109874