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Maori Group Launches Legal Battle To Claim Back Part Of Sydney

Maori Group Launches Legal Battle To Claim Back Part Of Sydney

They say they were given 112 acres of land in Parramatta back in the 1800s and now they want it back.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

A group of New Zealanders has launched a bizarre legal case to claim back a part of Sydney.

The leader of Ngāti Rangihou Kanguru hapū Maori group said they were given 112 acres of Parramatta more than 200 years ago and now they want what they say is theirs.

Unsurprisingly, Parramatta Council is disputing the legal case.

9 News

But that's not stopping Rangihou leader Lady Crown in her bid to win the space, which includes Rangihou Reserve, Robin Thomas Reserve and James Ruse Reserve and a section of parklands and a river.

"We are here to reclaim Rangihou land," Rangihou leader Lady Crown told 9 News.

"We want acknowledgement and recognition. We want the history books corrected and compensation for damages of the land.

"We have the first laws in time, so our laws stand above any other law in the land."

While you might find this absurd, there was quite a notable Maori presence in Parramatta back in the 1800s, according to the Parramatta government.

9 News

English born priest Samuel Marsden bought land in this very area for the purpose to educate people from New Zealand. He called it the Newlands.

The Heritage Centre says: "Newland's house was at this time probably the same property that was also known as Rangihou, Rangihu, Rangihoo or Rangutoo.

"This house was set up as a school to be used by Maoris he invited over from New Zealand. Marsden appears to have named Rangihou after Rangihoua Bay, in the Bay of Islands, near to where he preached the first Christian sermon in New Zealand in 1814.

"Rangihoua Bay was also the birthplace of the Ngapuhi chief Ruatara, with whom Marsden was friendly."

So it's not completely outrageous that they're now wanting to get recognition for something they believe is theirs. We'll have to see how the court case plays out but it'll be an incredible ruling if the Maoris get to claim ownership of it.

Featured Image Credit: 9News

Topics: News, Australia