The leader of the occupation movement at Ihumātao is concerned if legislation is passed to fast track resource consents, significant Māori heritage sites may be destroyed.
Cabinet has approved a new act, due to be passed in June, which would take away the ability of the public and councils to have an input into large shovel ready projects the government wishes to fast-track to stimulate the economy.
However, land returned via Treaty settlements would be protected from development, and those exercising the act would still need to "take into account" the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
That doesn't provide any resassurance to Save Our Unique Landscape leader Pania Newton, who says it was a lack of public consultation that lead to the situation at Ihumātao.
She is concerned shovel ready projects may involve Ihumātao or other significant Māori land sites.
