Ihumātao Plans Remain Unresolved Five Years On

The future of the disputed land at Ihumātao in South Auckland remains undecided more than five years after the New Zealand government purchased the site to end a long-running protest and occupation.

Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka met with the steering committee, Te Roopū Whakahaere, on May 10, 2026, to discuss the way forward for the whenua. Potaka characterized the ongoing efforts to reach a resolution as a delicate situation and confirmed that a final resolution for the matter has not yet been found.

The meeting, which occurred at the invitation of the steering group, was described by Potaka as a good robust kōrero with a focus on determining the future. The minister indicated that he has agreed to meet with the committee members again to continue discussions.

The Role of Te Roopū Whakahaere

Te Roopū Whakahaere was established in 2021 by the Kīngitanga to determine the outcome and development plan for the land. The committee consists of six members: two Crown representatives, one representative from the Kīngitanga, and three representatives from ahi kā groups, with one each from Te Ahiwaru, Te Kawerau ā Maki, and Te Ākitai Waiohua.

The group was given a five-year window to determine the next steps for the site. While the committee has remained engaged in discussions with the minister, a spokesperson for the group stated there was nothing to update and expressed a preference to avoid media commentary until there is information of substance to share.

Financial and Historical Context

The New Zealand government purchased the land from the construction company Fletchers in December 2020 for $29.9 million. The acquisition was funded through the government’s land for housing programme, which is designed to collaborate with developers and iwi to create social housing.

The dispute over the site intensified in 2016 after Fletchers purchased the historically significant land. This followed a 2014 decision to rezone the area as a Special Housing Area, a move that eventually triggered years of protest action and the subsequent occupation of the site in 2019.

At the time of the purchase, then-Finance Minister Grant Robertson stated that the land should be utilized for housing and other purposes to ensure the investment benefited taxpayers.

Political Reaction to Lack of Progress

The lack of a final plan for the land has drawn criticism from New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, who stated on May 12, 2026, that he was seriously disappointed in the lack of progress.

Peters described the current state of the land as an absolute waste of that land and the opportunity that they once had, noting that hundreds of houses were originally intended for the site before the project was halted for political reasons.

While Potaka had previously criticized the steering committee and the previous government as being all hui, no action during his time in opposition, he now maintains that the group continues to be engaged in discussions to find a viable path forward.