Opihi Whanaungakore battle: Occupation possible after subdivision granted consent 11 Mar, 2021 08:01 PM 3 minutes to read Iwi are fighting to stop a resource consent to turn this land in Whakatāne, which is wahi tapu, into a suburb featuring a retirement village. Photo / Charlotte Jones LDR Charlotte is a Local Democracy Reporter based in Whakatane. Development of wahi tapu land on Whakatāne's coast could be stalled by iwi occupation after commissioners consented to a 240-section housing subdivision and retirement village next to an ancient urupa. Kaitiaki of the Opihi Whanaungakore urupa, Rapata Kopae, said urupa trustees were considering how to stop the development including court action, a public information campaign or occupation of the land.