By Patrick Gower
The Government is wading into a controversy where a group of Maori have banned long-standing public access to two Wellington lakes.
The ban is expressly against the term of a treaty settlement whereby the Maori got title to the land and now Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson has asked the iwi group to explain itself.
John Martin has been shooting ducks on Wellington's Pencarrow Lakes for 55 years but he's been told to put down his gun, because he's not welcome there any more.
Two weeks ago a letter arrived telling Mr Martin and his mates duck shooting season's been cancelled because local iwi say it's against the “The protection and the preservation of the environment and general management practices that are in accordance with taranaki whanui tikanga”.
Mr Martin says he was shocked by the letter.
“They don't give you the opportunity to put your case it’s almost underhand really,” he says.
3 News was unable to reach iwi to ask why it has banned access - although they will have to explain themselves to the Treaty Negotiations Minister.
“On the face of it I would have thought reasonable access for duck shooting was preserved but I’m having a look at it and I’ll meet with taranaki whanui later in the week,” says Mr Finlayson.
Management of the lakes was handed over to iwi last year - and in the $22 million settlement public access was guaranteed.
Bryce Johnson, New Zealand director of Fish and Game, says the iwi's actions could have implications for all public users.
“It does say public use and access was to be guaranteed. And they seem to be trying to deny that. So that's outside the intent of law and the intent of parliament,” he says.
Mr Finlayson has jumped on this with national sensitive to claims it is soft on Maori.
Public access to Maori land is a particular red button issue and the iwi leader Sir Ngatata Love will have to explain why they are not allowing it when the law appears clear.
3 News