12 women arrested at Bastion Point

Press, 15 March 1982, Page 6

12 women arrested at Bastion Point

PA Auckland The police arrested 12 women for trespassing on Housing Corporation land at Bastion Point yesterday, bringing to an end a weekend of protest over the disputed property. After the arrest of the 12, they then made a further two arrests, one for insulting language and the other for a breach of the peace. In scenes reminiscent of the May. 1978, eviction when 222 protesters were arrested for trespass, the police yesterday moved in and simply took the protesters away. Although the eviction yesterday was only a fraction of the Size of the previous one, the- police ensured success with sufficient manpower to overcome the possibility of mass arrests. The police effort was basically a carbon copy of the 1978 plan. They swamped the area with uniformed police who formed a-ring around the protesters to keep out anybody who might interfere while a smaller group moved in to make the arrests., The head of the Auckland police district. Assistant Commissioner B. W. Gibson, described, the heavy police presence as “adequate to

control the situation and any possible eventuality."

He said that while in the end there were : only 14 women to be arrested, the police had had to be prepared for more arrests, i There appeared to be well in excess of 100 police visible at the Housing Corporation land. ’. ’ ’ ■ - ■

Mr Gibson said the police received a complaint from the corporation .that there were people, trespassing on the land at 11.16 a.m. By the time the police were ready to move,in, the 100 or so who had gathered for a church service and speeches had left and only the women remained.

A spokesman said that if anyone? entered the land, the corporation would again make 2 a complaint of trespass to the police. . He Tsaid the corporation had n$ plan to make its land more jSecure by erecting a more.jsubstantial fence. A ’group of about 150 people on Saturday marched opif tp the Auckland City Council land at Bastion Point where the land rights leader, Mr j Joe Hawke, spoke of Maoris’ rights to claim the ■land. Numbers swelled during the afternoon as .the

protesters made their camp close to J the controversial corporation' 1.7 hectares now at issue. . Throughout most of Saturday the police presence was confined to Mr Gibson, Chief Inspector R. I. Chadwick, and two other senior officers. A herd 'of . cattle was driven on to the land late on Saturday afternoon and it was not until late yesterday morning that the protesters went on to the corporation property. The police party was then increased and at 3.38 p.m. made the first arrest. A spokesman for the Joint,, Working Group on Bastion : Point, the Rev. Terence Dibble. said the group had occupied the disputed land and claimed it as an “embassy.” He said Mr Hawke would not occupy the land. There was a '.new energy” developing and. recognising this, Mr Hawke had allowed some of the younger people to take their place.

“He is still the leader.” said Father Dibble-. “He is just'allowing them to make their stand." Father. Dibble said he was “very happy" with the way •the weekend -had gone. . '