Police arrest protesters

Press, 3 February 1984, Page 4

Police arrest protesters

PA Auckland Eleven people were arrested last evening after a near two-week occupation of a Waiheke Island farm they claimed belonged to their tribe.

They were part of a group of Ngati-Paoa tribe members who occupied a small plot on the 960 ha property which the Maori Affairs Department has leased to a Maori farmer and his two sons.

They say that the lease to the farmer, Mr George Evans, is a “land grab” and a betrayal. Members say that the tribe, as a previous owner of the land, was not consulted when the land was made available for lease. .

The group’s spokesman, Ms Laura Thompson, said before the eviction that its fight was not with Mr Evans, but against what she called the Crown and department’s failure to recognise the Ngati-Paoa as a tribe.

The Ngati-Paoa are from Kaiaua on the Firth of Thames.

At 5.30 p.m. police in several vehicles and a chartered bus approached

the group of about 20 people who were preparing dinner around three tents. Maori Affairs officials were there too.

The protesters were given a last chance to reconsider their stand and a number, including Ms Thompson, left the farm.

Eleven people, including pakehas, remained and were arrested.

The police last evening praised the way in which the tribe conducted itself during the protest. Superintendent I. L. Mills, who led a 25-strong contingent of Auckland police to Waiheke, said the protest was carried out in an atmosphere of total co-operation.

“We commend this sort of attitude,” he said.

The 11 who were arrested were brought back to Auckland in the police launch Deodar. The remaining 11 returned at the invitation of the police in another boat hired to take some of the police party to the island.

Those arrested were granted police bail. Superintendent Mills said the Board of Maori Affairs would decide if prosecutions would be laid.