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Wellington Mayor Andy Foster based his mayoral campaign on his involvement in the field in Shelly Bay; now he has literally done the hypothetical.
Foster was photographed Sunday helping pitch tents in what started out as a one-man sentinel in Shelly Bay.
It is now shaping up to be an occupation of the controversial development site with Foster lending his strength to the cause. He is in direct opposition to his own council, which recently voted in favor of the proposed $ 500 million development in Shelly Bay.
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Wellington Mayor Andy Foster set up a tent in Shelly Bay.
Anaru Mepham of the Mau Whenua group, which opposes the development, last week saw himself as a sentinel for protesters who are waiting to join him if bulldozers enter.
Mau Whenua posted a photo on Facebook Sunday of Foster helping with the tents, along with the comment: “That time the mayor showed up in his suit to help us set up the tent!
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Settling in for a long-term family – welcome to Marukaikuru, Shelly Bay. There is room for everyone. “
The Wellington City Council earlier this month voted nine to six to sell and lease its land in Shelly Bay to Shelly Bay Taikuru, owned by developer Ian Cassels and his partner.
Cassels previously bought a much larger section of land at Wellington iwi Taranaki Whānui Miramar Peninsula site, but the validity of that sale is subject to a High Court case brought by Mau Whenua and will be heard in March.
Ross Giblin / Stuff
Anaru Mepham of the Mau Whenua group, which opposes the development of Shelly Bay, sees himself as a sentinel for further protests after Wellington City Council agreed to sell his land there.
However, the council’s land deal meant Cassels could promise that development would begin “next week,” though he later said Things this would not mean immediate physical jobs.
The council vote was against Foster, who launched his mayoral campaign in Shelly Bay, remains a long-term opponent of the development, and spoke out strongly against the council’s land sale and lease. He was endorsed by filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson, who is also a vocal opponent of the development.
The day after the council vote, Mepham packed up his truck and drove to Shelly Bay, where he said he was willing to wait until the March court case.
Protesters were waiting to join him if earthmoving teams started arriving. Up to 300 people had stopped to support him in his first week there, he said.
“Without a doubt, everyone has seen that something is wrong,” he said.
Sydney Mepham, also from Mau Whenua, confirmed in 2019 that they were willing to occupy Shelly Bay if necessary.
