The colonising heritage took from our people their land, their whenua, their moana, with overt violence in the 19th century.
It would still be possible to resolve the issue in a way that recognises both the mana whenua of ancestral title and the customary right of others to go to the beach.
She said the operation would not be possible without the help of Te Parawhau, who have mana whenua (right to management of iwi lands) over Matakohe Island.
A love of the whenua, the land, the mountains, the pohutukawa, and the surrounding seas is nationally enjoyed.
The importance of developing and maintaining relationships with other Maori groups, including mana whenua was identified, though challenges to achieving this were acknowledged.