Academics swap history lessons on disputed land | Northland News | Local News in Northland

Te Matarahurahu leader and Auckland Unitech lecturer David Rankin may have met his match in his bid to give a history lesson to Ngati Kahu leader and Auckland University professor
Margaret Mutu.

Mr Rankin has criticised Ms Mutu and Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira for supporting the occupation of land at Taipa by brothers John and Wikatana Popata.

The brothers, who were convicted of assaulting Prime Minister John Key at Waitangi last year, have taken down real-estate agents' signs at a privately owned former motor camp,  saying they want the land returned to Ngati Kahu.

Mr Rankin yesterday said the land in question had been controlled by Hone Heke and his Matarahurahu hapu, and members of that hapu still lived there.

 "The Popatas have no connection with that land and no mana whenua status," he said.

Mr Rankin said he was "infuriated" by the way the protest pair had been manipulated by Maori leaders.

"We see Hone Harawira and Margaret Mutu standing at the sidelines and shoving these boys in front of them to do the dirty work of the protest," he said. "Our Maori leadership should be encouraging our youth to get an education or seek employment. This is the opposite and Harawira and Mutu should be held personally responsible."

Mr Rankin said it was a shame to see the young men have their lives wasted for a cause that was potentially illegal and that would bring them nothing but trouble, and was particularly critical of Ms Mutu.

"She claims to be a professor, but she doesn't even know the history of the area. And there can be no excuse for this, because claims before the Waitangi Tribunal show clearly that this is Matarahurahu land. My message to Mutu is 'get your history right, get your facts right first before you act'," Mr Rankin said.

But Ms Mutu, who chairs the Ngati Kahu Runanga, said the history of the land, known as Maheatai, was in the 1997 Muriwhenua land report. Ngati Kahu had been there for 1000 years, she said. Post 1800, when newly introduced diseases were killing tribe members,  a large area of land around Maheatai was given to Dr Gerard Ford so he would stay and treat the sick.

But he had left and Te Rarawa and the Matarahurahu hapu of Ngapuhi had fought over the land, which Ngati Kahu had declared wahi tapu. Matarahurahu who had remained in the area were centred around Kenana south of Taipa and were regarded as Ngati Kahu.

"When I visited the [Popata] boys the other day, Matarahurahu kuia were there supporting them," she said.

"I have never seen Mr Rankin at any land claims or runanga meetings, or any other hui involving this land."

Mr Harawira said that "instead of  buying into that white-fear rubbish", Mr Rankin and Northland Labour list MP Shane Jones, who had also been critical of the Maori Party MP, should go to Taipa and talk to locals  about Maheatai issues.

"I'll guarantee they will be running home with their tails between their legs, and I'll be watching, backing the boys, backing Margaret Mutu and backing Ngati Kahu."