After the demolition of the old Marokopa school building. Photo supplied.
Marokopa Māori are seeking the return of land under the camping ground and former schoolhouse. Mana Whenua O Marokopa has asked the Waitomo District Council to consider returning the land to them, instead of selling it because it was not currently paying its way. In recent years the council subdivided the land, separating the old schoolhouse from the camping ground. The schoolhouse has been demolished. Following a presentation which included the history of the block, including that it was not offered back to the original owners when no longer required for a schoolhouse under the Public Works Act, and sold to the council in 1984-85 for $42,000. The whānau advised they wish to build a relationship/partnership with the council and work toward having access to services which are not available locally to Marokopa whānau, making use of the property. “We don’t expect something to come back for nothing, but we do expect a relationship because that whenua deserves to come back to the hands of the people. We are saying we will look after the community,” the delegation said. “The proposal is really to pass the whenua back and we will work with you on how that should work.” The council accepted a recommendation from the Te Raangai Whakakaupapa Koorero (Māori Relations Committee) that council continue to work with the Mana Whenua O Marokopa Work Group on building a relationship for management of the Campground and Old School House property in the future. A recommendation Te Raangai Whakakaupapa Koorero provide input into the development of a recommendation to council on the management of the land was discussed in the confidential section of that meeting. In response to a request for the outcome the council’s media person stated there was a ‘really good’ manager looking after the campgrounds now and over time the council will be looking for a long-term solution with all the stakeholders.Marokopa Māori are seeking the return of land under the camping ground and former schoolhouse.
Mana Whenua O Marokopa has asked the Waitomo District Council to consider returning the land to them, instead of selling it because it was not currently paying its way.
In recent years the council subdivided the land, separating the old schoolhouse from the camping ground. The schoolhouse has been demolished.
Following a presentation which included the history of the block, including that it was not offered back to the original owners when no longer required for a schoolhouse under the Public Works Act, and sold to the council in 1984-85 for $42,000.
The whānau advised they wish to build a relationship/partnership with the council and work toward having access to services which are not available locally to Marokopa whānau, making use of the property.
“We don’t expect something to come back for nothing, but we do expect a relationship because that whenua deserves to come back to the hands of the people. We are saying we will look after the community,” the delegation said.
“The proposal is really to pass the whenua back and we will work with you on how that should work.”
The council accepted a recommendation from the Te Raangai Whakakaupapa Koorero (Māori Relations Committee) that council continue to work with the Mana Whenua O Marokopa Work Group on building a relationship for management of the Campground and Old School House property in the future.
A recommendation Te Raangai Whakakaupapa Koorero provide input into the development of a recommendation to council on the management of the land was discussed in the confidential section of that meeting.
In response to a request for the outcome the council’s media person stated there was a ‘really good’ manager looking after the campgrounds now and over time the council will be looking for a long-term solution with all the stakeholders.
