Te Ahiwaru spokesperson and trustee Anya Tahere.
A South Auckland hapū is demanding to be included in any potential Crown deal that’s done around buying Auckland International Airport Limited (AIAL) shares, following Auckland Council’s decision to sell down a significant portion of its holdings in the airport.
Te Ahiwaru is a Māngere-based hapū, and its trustee and spokesperson Anya Tahere, who leads engagement with the airport, says the trust must be involved in discussions between Council, the Crown and Waikato-Tainui, to acknowledge its status as mana whenua, and it should be seen as rightful recipients of any available airport shares.
However, Tahere says any discussion about the shares needs to include Te Ahiwaru, and as of yet they have not heard directly from Auckland Council.
“For too long Te Ahiwaru have been overlooked and dismissed in the political and environmental landscape of Tāmaki Makaurau.
“We are the mana whenua and ahi kā of lands in and around the airport, and have been directly impacted by its development and growth.
She says, as mana whenua, her hapū would like it acknowledged how it’s been impacted by the airport’s presence over many years.
Te Ahiwaru is the closest hapū to Auckland Airport. It was only 14 years ago the airport exhumed the bodies of 85 ancestors – believed to have lain there for six centuries – to build its second runway.
Auckland Council said that any decisions on the process for its partial divestment of airport shares are still being made.
