It has been three years that land at Ihumātao has been occupied by opponents of a housing development by Fletcher Building, and more than a year since they were served a trespass notice. Construction has since been stalled.
After numerous talks between ministers, Kiingitanga, mana whenua and the government, a resolution has been reached.
The government will buy the land from Fletcher Building for just under $30 million, the first step in breaking the long-running deadlock.
Ihumātao is believed to be one of the first places where Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau settled, farmed and thrived. It had been designated to make way for 480 new homes in a city crippled by a housing crisis.
The housing development has been opposed by the SOUL (Save Our Unique Landscape) group who say the land has historical, cultural and archaeological significance and should be left an open space or returned to mana whenua.
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