In 2016, Newton was a co-founder and spokesperson of the group Save Our Unique Landscape (SOUL), which protested against the development of land at Ihumātao in south Auckland from 2016 to 2020.

As a result of the group's protest action, the New Zealand government purchased the land from the developer in 2020, although as of 2022[update] its future remains unresolved.

[1] In 2016, Newton, alongside her five cousins and other supporters, formed the group Save Our Unique Landscape (SOUL) to protest the development of land at Ihumātao, which had been taken from Māori ownership in 1863.

[10] Newton and the other protestors living at the site faced opposition from Fletcher, which issued them trespass notices in 2016 and attempted to demolish a farmhouse on the property in 2017.

Following media coverage, the government announced there would be no building activity on the site until a solution was reached, and Auckland Council agreed to meet with the protestors.

[9] Newton criticised the government for its lack of cooperation with the local community, and said she was disappointed that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had not met with SOUL.

[16] As a result of the increased media attention, the protest grew by hundreds of people with visitors to the site that drew public figures Stan Walker, Ladi6 and others.

[20] Later that month, she and other protestors undertook a hīkoi (protest march) to the prime minister's Auckland office, where they delivered a petition asking Ardern to visit the land.