14 Mar 2014

Call to stop taking land

1:40 pm on 14 March 2014

The Maori Land Court has been told that "enough is enough" and no more Maori land should be taken by the Crown.

Whakarongotai Marae, Waikanae.

Whakarongotai Marae, Waikanae. Photo: RNZ / Gareth Thomas

Writer Patricia Grace is seeking special protection of her land in Waikanae, which has been taken by the Crown to build a major road, the Kapiti expressway.

The court, hearing the case at Whakarongotai Marae in Waikanae, was told the area was an old papakainga (Maori settlement).

Ms Grace said Maori land should not be taken, considering the court, the Waitangi Tribunal, the Crown and iwi are working to right the wrongs of past land confiscations.

The Transport Agency told the court the route through Ms Grace's land is the least invasive and has the least impact on Maori land.

It says her section is in a significant area, but there are no key historical structures on it.