Leiite - Bastion Point

In 1976 the government proposed selling part of the Bastion Point reserve (Maori’s land) for luxury housing. It was on ancestral land that Ngāti Whātua hoped to get back. The Bastion Point war started on the 5th of January 1977 it lasted for 506 days and ended on 25th May 1978. There were 222 protesters were evicted and arrested by police officers. Ngāti Whātua filed claims to the Waitangi Tribunal, which the government largely accepted. The Land March 1975 was significant to New Zealand because it reflected that our country cared about our spiritual values. The protest contributed to the cause of other movements such as the occupation of Bastion Point in 1978. The event was a contrast to the war generation that was conservative. Arguments over the proposed Ihumatao development in South Auckland. There was a lot of people at the Bastion Point fighting for their land and the story has been told many, many times a lot of people know and understand this story they fought for their land then and they'll do it again!.