Unpaid property taxes keep depriving Maori of their homes. Although they live on their own land, which often has been taken by ruse or force, even their homes are not safe, as the dominant culture continues to impoverish and marginalize them.

Matua Karanga, a confederation of Maori chiefs headed by H.E. Chief Charles Hohepa is leading a legal and civil campaign of changing Maori life, including stopping illegal foreclosures backed by the force of the New Zealand government and in violation of Maori sovereignty.

On Oct 25 in Taranaki, two Maori homes were put on the auction block pursuant to foreclosure action for failure to pay property taxes. As a crowd gathered, and auctioneer started auction, two chiefs, Herbert Rerekura and Ariki Toheroa members of Matua Karanga, dressed in suits, mingled into the crowd stood forward and interrupted proceedings. The chiefs explained to the crowd Maori sovereignty and illegality of the proceedings the police arrived in force to stop disruption of auction. The chiefs addressed police who pushed a Maori officer forward to confront them.

The chief Herbert Rerekura explained Maori sovereignty and basis of their undeniable authority to police, who were then seated and listened to the rest of the chiefs' speech upon completion, Ariki Toheroa, then took a gold $1 coin out of his pocket. He described in detail the meaning of the inscriptions on each side of the coin the queen on one side she is our partner and you're her servant, on the other side a kiwi, which is ours tangata whenua (people of the land), then placed the bid on the auctioneer's table for $1.00. Ariki Toheroa addressed the crowd quoted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, article 10, 11,12, Ariki Toheroa had captured the auction audience attention and finished off with stay away from the 2 properties otherwise you will be served with an injunction.

The auction was thus terminated, and Maori retained their homes pursuant to the foreclosure action by government and sale at auction.

This is another victory against oppression and violation of Maori sovereign rights by an illegal New Zealand government. ---- for comments email us at info@internationalmaoriculturalcentre.com