LETTER: Left in the dark | Auckland Opinion | Local Voices from Auckland, New Zealand

Have you heard about the proposed marae at Bethells Beach? As a local resident I was very disappointed to hear about this from the media and not the Waitakere City Council.

Council employees have repeatedly denied any knowledge of a marae when questioned by locals. The city council is using its public exclusion laws to keep all details relating to this marae a secret. You cannot even obtain any information as to what is being proposed under the Official Information Act. So much for honesty, openness and transparency in local government.

The owners of a fifty acre block of land are being allowed to subdivide off six acres because the council wants it for this marae. This subdivision would never be allowed to occur if the owners wanted to sell it to anyone but the Waitakere City Council. The Waitakere Heritage Protection Bill was introduced to stop subdivisions and developments in this area. It appears that the W.C.C is prepared to trample all over the laws of the land for the Iwi but not the Kiwi.

Where are all the people that pushed the Waitakere Heritage Protection Area? Where are the greenies? These people are all conspicuous by their absence, once again is it all right for the iwi but not the Kiwi?

I have been informed that the council intends buying this bare six acre block for one million dollars. In a prearranged secret deal the landowners will purchase one storey of a multi-storey car park in Henderson, currently owned by the Waitakere City Council for the same amount. So the rate payers will lose a profit making asset to obtain a liability. A ten acre block with an established home on it in this area could be purchased for a lot less than one million dollars.

The Maori who lived here left of their own free will, they sold their land and homes and moved away because they no longer wished to live in the area. They have no legal or moral rights to any land at Bethells, just the same as anyone else who sold up and left over the years. Yet now the ratepayers are supposed to finance their way back into the area through this marae.

The large failing by the Waitakere City Council is that they have not recognised and appreciated the fact that New Zealand has a history, heritage and culture of its own. This was created by the Maori and pioneering families who came to this country.

The Bethell's family and their descendents in particular are more responsible for the history and heritage of the Bethells valley than anyone. This is why we have a small isolated community and aren't "Yeeeeha it's Piha".

The community and all of Auckland have the right to know exactly what the Waitakere City Council is proposing, so we can all have some input and have our say.

• Are we paying too much for this land?
• Is the subdivision legal under current laws?
• Is there going to be residential housing onsite?
• How large and what is this Marae Cultural Centre actually going to consist of?
• What effects will this have on the community?
• Will this be used as a tourist attraction?
• Will we have bus loads of tourists buying souvenirs and watching shows?
• Will the road, bridge and amenities handle increased traffic?
• Who will run and manage this Marae Cultural Centre? Will it be a community group?
• Will the Maori be given preferential treatment and access to this cultural centre over local residents?
• Who will be paying for all the geotech reports, plans and resource consents?
• Who will be paying for the buildings?
• If this proceeds will this building represent all cultures in our community or just Maori?

Even people who are in support of this Marae / cultural centre would be unable to make informed decisions until they know exactly what it is they are supporting. The Auckland Transition Agency needs to review its decision to approve the funding for this development. Rodney Hide as Local Government Minister certainly needs to get involved to ensure that everything is legal and above board and the Waitakere City Council isn't potentially destroying our small community for a race-based pet project of Bob Harvey's.

T. R. Browne (Barry)
Bethells Beach