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Regional | Waikanae

Māori Heritage Council wins case for wāhi tapu site designation

The Māori Heritage Council has won a case to designate part of the land at Waikanae Christian Holiday Park as a wāhi tapu (sacred land) site.

The park, also known as El Rancho, has been the subject of a dispute between Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai and the ranch's owners.

The owners fought a high court decision, arguing that it did not consider the adverse effects of registering a wāhi tapu site on the value of the land.

The claim for wāhi tapu status goes back to 1995 when Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai asked the Kāpiti Coast District Council for land to be recognised.

A bench of three judges say they are satisfied the High Court was right to dismiss the application for judicial review and order El Rancho's owners to pay costs.

It is a significant site because that's where Te Ātiawa and Raukawa fought in the battle called Kūititanga.