tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27863241.post8538703587374533379..comments2023-10-31T01:41:17.306+13:00Comments on Waatea News Update: Economic strength recognisedAdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16322691526769767082noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27863241.post-91512005972910402862007-10-14T15:44:00.000+13:002007-10-14T15:44:00.000+13:00Many have asked me about Matakana Island so here i...Many have asked me about Matakana Island so here it is;<BR/>In 1993 Sonny Tawhiao and Chrissy Kuka laid the log on the road stopping the new owners of Matakana logging. Ngai Terangi wanted to own Matakana Island. They claimed the land was sacred. A number of the leader of the iwi formed a company called Te Kotukutuku (TKC). The protests worked and TKC was given a contract to own Matakana. The protests stopped. I met Sonny in 1991 when he was working WAI 216. His passion and beliefs were very real. He was very genuine and I liked him. He called me for information about what TKC were up to who were claiming everything was secret with the iwi leaders telling the people nothing. He suspected the iwi leader were crooks wanting what they could for themselves. I provided the information he was looking for and was preparing to tackle them. After beginning to lobby his people Sonny was killed. His burnt body found in the back seat of his car in the Matakana bush. The police suggested suicide. I don't believe it was suicide. TKC was being investigated by Sonny and for that he gave his life. I encourage a full enquiry into Sonny's death and the activities of TKC and iwi leadership taking assets for themselves.12.5% TKC shareholder iwi accountant Graeme Ingham's son in law wrote the police report saying Sonny drove into the Matakana forest and set himself on fire. I first met Don Shaw, Graham Ingham in 1991 required to do so because of the Resource Management Act. Shaw made many threats about Maori trouble. But said he could help if I paid him. He had no interest for the locals or Maori heritage.<BR/>I was buying Matakana's 10,000 acre forest land for $20 m. The deal was spectacular. After hard work I got the price down from $30 to $20m. I asked merchant bank Far Financial for $4.25m. They loved our business plan, but unknown to me were broke. Instead of offering us money they asked for $5000 for them to look for the money. I declined their offer. Evidence showed that within days FAR started doing the deal themselves with ITT and later Ernslaw.<BR/>My partner Kanematsu Japan, were buying for the 17-34 year forest for $15.75m. But were worried about Maori kicking a fuss. TKC shareholder Don Shaw made sure articles appeared in the media to put them off. I met with Don Shaw in Aug 1992 to explain Kanematsu were worried of Maori trouble if they purchased the Matakana logs.The meeting was recorded. <BR/>Months later the sale to FAR ITT, Shaw and Ingham under the veil of Ngai Terangi began legal proceedings claiming they (iwi) had a bid to buy Matakana -funded by Kanematsu ? I then found Don Shaw and Ingham had gone to Kanematsu and said if Kanematsu did the deal with Wingate Maori would cause trouble. But if Kanematsu did a deal with TKC there would be no trouble. Kanematsu could see the threat. So in writing Kanematsu said they would give TKC an offer only if they had consent from Wingate.In May 1997 I won my case against FAR. In 1998 Court of Appeal TKC had begged the court to allow the sacred land to remain with Maori. I lost as did my family and shareholders.<BR/>I appealed to the Privy Council the judgment saying the Court of Appeal covered the facts and I lost. TKC was now rich and Sonny was dead.<BR/>For a number of years I have heard and read reports in the paper about TKC promoting a canal development on the Matakana sacred land. Some locals kicked up a fuss. Recently in 2007 TKC sold all the Matakana land. 5000 acres to Americans Blakely and the second to foreign backed developers. The sacred land is gone and iwi leaders and the accountant Ingham have the money. TKC have sold the sacred land to developers, so what has the iwi gained if the land is the source of their soul.Nothing. I spent $5.5m to find our courts and government are hopeless. They fail everyone. We live in Australia now. My son in and out of hospital suffering crohns. I raised my family in NZ a place I dearly loved. I am sad for what has happened and I am sad for Maori who have leaders who take assets they are claiming on behalf of the iwi for themselves. We have lost the Matakana land and the life of Sonny Tawhiao. So what have we learnt ? We can't trust leaders Maori and pakeha.Wingatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16358512562693562856noreply@blogger.com