Air base cited in iwi deal

Marlborough iwi could get Blenheim's Woodbourne Air Base as part of a Treaty settlement deal.

A Government-ordered defence review announced last week proposed the sale of some defence property to the private sector, with agreements to lease them back to the military.

Associate Minister of Defence Heather Roy said Woodbourne would be considered, alongside every base in New Zealand.

Three iwi, Rangitane, Ngati Apa and Ngati Kuia known collectively as Kurahaupo have been negotiating over Woodbourne.

Chairman Richard Bradley said he was heartened by the defence review proposals that some properties might be better managed by the private sector.

"Certainly, that has been one of the Kurahaupo strategies; turning what's a deteriorating regional asset into something of more benefit to the local economy," he said.

"I saw that iwi, like our federation, are more likely to be able to return the benefits of a property like Woodbourne to the regional community than an international property consortium whose shareholding is based outside the top of the south or even based offshore."

Kurahaupo signed an agreement in principle with the Crown in February, accepting a figure of $80 million as the value of their Treaty claim.

It came as part of a $300m settlement with all eight of the top-of-the-south iwi.

Background documents released at the time envisaged that Kurahaupo might be given the opportunity to buy parts of Woodbourne Air Base.

In a ceremony to sign February's agreement, Rangitane chairwoman Judith MacDonald told Prime Minister John Key the acquisition of Woodbourne Air Base would be a "deal-breaker".

Bradley said Woodbourne's "iconic" value was the reason it was so important to iwi.

"The iconic part of it, of course, is that our iwi has a long history of association with the Crown and all its wars."

Also, physically, to be seen to be the kaitiaki of a military base in the South Island.

"So there's those types of relationships which make it iconic. It's not just an old car park or a crusher works down the riverbank."

The Defence Force said it was aware of iwi interest in Woodbourne and was considering possible sale and leaseback options.

- © Fairfax NZ News