Camp David to be ‘independent state’

Press, 2 November 1982, Page 3

Camp David to be ‘independent state’

The Camp David religious sect at Waipara has taken a dispute it is having with the Hurunui County Council over planning consent, to the Human Rights -Commission.

The sect's leader, Mr D. A. Metcalf, said last evening that he sent a letter yesterday to the commission alleging that the council’s actions were interfering with the sect’s right to practise its religion.

In a further expression of its displeasure with the council, the sect has decided “to opt out of the county” and declare itself to be an “independent theocratic state" within New Zealand.

Henceforth, the sect said in a publicity release, it would be officially known as the “Palatinate of Canan" and members or officials of the Hurunui County Council would be allowed to visit Camp David “only at our convenience.”

The dispute arises from an application the sect made to the council for permission to alter a building on its Waipara farm, increase the number of caravan sites from three to 10. and to build an implement shed.

Last month the council reserved its decision on the application and asked the sect to provide a detailed map of the site to be considered at the next town planning committee meeting on November 19.

Council members and officials declined yesterday to comment on the substance of the dispute because it was still under consideration by the council. They did say. however, that the sect was merely being asked to comply with the same townplanning procedures as any other resident.

Mr Metcalf alleged yesterday that this was not true. The sect had begun the application nine months ago and the council had continually raised new objections and requirements.

"Each time we have fulfilled the needs or qualifications they have thought of another one . . . We decided we could do better without their permission."

The sect was "thinking about” making the changes it wanted without waiting further. It would welcome court action by the county because that would bring the matter into the open rather than its being kept shrouded in secrecy in county committees, Mr Metcalf said.

The sect sprang to prominence in 1977 when the police seized a large quantity of firearms from the sect’s Waipara site and charged several members, including Mr Metcalf, with illegal possession. The charges were dismissed after it was shown that the men who had them were legitimate gun collectors.

After the incident, the previously secretive organisation became more open and began to welcome visitors.

Some hostility still existed towards the sect because of that incident, said - Mr Metcalf, and the farm was still the victim of occasional petty vandalism.

Fear for the safety of valuable items stored there, not obsession with security, was the reason for the sect’s refusal to supply the detailed map the council now wanted, Mr Metcalf said. In any case, the sect had already provided three maps on previous occasions.

Relations with the council had been good until this year. Now, because of the difficulties it was having, “it appears clear to us all . . .

we are neither welcome nor acceptable within the Hurunui county.”

The sect has not been represented by counsel in its latest troubles. Asked yesterday whether it might not be better to hire a good lawyer to argue the case in court if the sect thought it was being delayed simply because of its religious views. Mr Metcalf said: “That’s good advice. I’ll put it before the elders.”