Karakia to mark first anniversary of Ihumātao eviction notice

A karakia at Ihumātao on Thursday will mark one year since an eviction notice was served to protestors.

The historical site near Auckland Airport has been the centre of a land dispute with no end in sight. Activists have been protesting against plans to build almost 500 homes on the land, which was confiscated from Māori  in 1863 by the Crown.

Protesters from the Save Our Unique Landscape movement say the land should be returned to Māori.

The Prime Minister negotiated a temporary halt to construction at the site in July 2019 while a solution was sought.

Mass protests followed the eviction notice in a bid to save the land from a housing development by Fletcher Building, but a deal is still yet to happen. 

The karakia will start at 8:20am.