Direct cause of the Raglan Occupation
The immediate cause of the Maori occupation of the Raglan golf course was the government’s failure to return land taken under the Public Works Act to the Tainui Awhiro Maori. Land in Raglan was taken during World War II from the Tainui Awhiro Maori, due to clauses of the Public Works Act, to build an emergency airfield. The Tainui Maori were told this would only be a temporary measure taken for national security during the war, which was accepted by the Maori. However, the war had ended and the land had not been returned to the Tainui Awhiro Maori and instead control was given to the local council. The council then leased it to the local golf club and part of the land was converted into a golf course for the public. The Tainui Awhiro Maori were not returned their land and were denied access to it, they were angry and annoyed as the land held burial sites of their ancestors. The failure of government to return land to the Tainui Awhiro Maori was the most significant cause of the 1978 Maori occupation of the Raglan golf course.
The immediate cause of the Maori occupation of the Raglan golf course was the government’s failure to return land taken under the Public Works Act to the Tainui Awhiro Maori. Land in Raglan was taken during World War II from the Tainui Awhiro Maori, due to clauses of the Public Works Act, to build an emergency airfield. The Tainui Maori were told this would only be a temporary measure taken for national security during the war, which was accepted by the Maori. However, the war had ended and the land had not been returned to the Tainui Awhiro Maori and instead control was given to the local council. The council then leased it to the local golf club and part of the land was converted into a golf course for the public. The Tainui Awhiro Maori were not returned their land and were denied access to it, they were angry and annoyed as the land held burial sites of their ancestors. The failure of government to return land to the Tainui Awhiro Maori was the most significant cause of the 1978 Maori occupation of the Raglan golf course.