Today in History

1978 Bastion Point protestors evicted

Police and army removed all 218 occupants of Bastion Point, ending an occupation that had lasted 506 days. Ngati Whatua were protesting the loss of land in the Orakei Block, which was once declared 'absolutely inalienable'.

Protesters occupied Bastion Point in Auckland in January 1977 after the government announced a housing development on former Ngati Whatua reserve land. The land had been gradually reduced in size by compulsory acquisition, leaving the Ngati Whatua ki Orakei tribal group holding less than one hectare.

As a result of a Waitangi Tribunal inquiry much of the land was later returned to or vested with Ngati Whatua.

There were similar protests during 1978 at Raglan. There, Maori land had originally been taken during the Second World War for a military airfield but was not needed for this purpose. Instead of being returned to its former owners, part of the land had been turned into a golf course in 1969. The land was eventually returned to Tainui Awhiro people.