Kaumatua wants Crown to buy Northland island

A Northland kaumatua wants the Crown to buy an island in Northland's Matauri Bay. The only privately owned island in the Cavalli group, Motukawaiti, is for sale for $22 million. The island - known as the whaea or mother of the islands - has deep cultural significance to Māori. Former MP and Ngāti Kura kaumatua Dover Samuels has been advocating for it to be returned to hapū. He told Māni Dunlop the $150 million Ngāpuhi Investment Fund, Tupu Tonu, announced earlier this year - is a clear option to get it back.