We have less than 50 signatures to go to hit 1000, so is it worthwhile? I found some answers in the Report of The Waitangi Tribunal on the Manukau (follow the link). Many knowledgeable, passionate and informed people, both Māori and Pākehā had input to the report, which provides a brief history of the Manukau, its occupations and the abuses, not just to its people, but also to the land and waters, of which the point on reclamation is about. In the past reclamation has been done for industry and transport, with little respect for the people and waters of the Manukau; Reclaimed land has been filled with garbage, it pollutes the waters, this in turn destroys the ecological balance, and upsets the food supply, and people themselves are displaced and cut off from the waters, which according to the report were once crystal clear with white sand beaches, and a rich abundance of food. Aotea takes a concern over these things as they impact on us, we teach water safety, water skills, and respect for the environment; and the Sea Scout environment obviously includes the Manukau. The reclamation we are seeking for relocation of our building is not a reclamation of old, it is a restoration, a putting right to some effect some of the wrong done in the past. On reading the document I see that at that time the critical questions as posed by the Honourable K. T. Wetere, Minster of Māori Affairs, was when is enough enough, and what can we do now to repair the damage already done? That was in 1985, over 30 years ago! Please read the document. We need less than 50 signatures to get 1000, but if everyone who has already signed gets just one more to sign we will have closer to 2000. Enough is enough! https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/WT/wt_DOC_68495207/WAI008.PDF