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Massive outrage over New Plymouth District Council saga

Saturday 23 March 2013, 11:10AM

By NP Linked Taranaki

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Man gets all the support
Man gets all the support Credit: ANDY JACKSON/FairfaxNZ

TARANAKI

LATEST: There has been massive outrage sparked from around the world following the New Plymouth District Council in Taranaki confirming they would evict Oakura's eccentric beachcomber Eric Brewer.

The 62-year-old sickness beneficiary has been told by the New Plymouth District Council he will be evicted from his driftwood and tarpaulin home on Tapuae Beach this Wednesday.

His supporters believe he has the right to enjoy the alternative lifestyle on the beachfront where he has lived on-and-off for the last 18 years.

On Facebook, supporters describe Eric as a peaceful, friendly and well-liked man. One called him the "Maori Jesus".

The council says he is breaching local body bylaws and is liable to be prosecuted or trespassed if he does not leave by 3pm on Wednesday.

Yesterday, the council's parks manager Mark Bruhn said every effort had been made to assist the beach-dweller to shift.

If Mr Brewer contacted Housing New Zealand to arrange rental accommodation he would be treated with the highest priority, Mr Bruhn said.

When the Taranaki Daily News called at Mr Brewer's dwelling on Thursday he was adamant he did not want to pay rent.

"Maori never paid rent. We've been brainwashed."

One of his daughters said her father had a large family who supported him. Tapuae Estate residents had been trying to get rid of him so they could further develop the land, she said.

"This is the one place where for years he has fitted, it is where he is happy, it is his home, he is not violent to anyone, he is not hurting anyone or anything except maybe the value of Taupae Estate's area.

"Dad has been there for years more than the estate - he should stay. He does go off and rants sometimes, but it is always the same thing, it is never personal, it is never violent - it's just rather eccentric, and it harms no-one. If someone doesn't want to listen to it, they have the option of just walking away."

An infonews.co.nz exclusive investigation shows that the support is becoming overwhelming for the 62 year old beach man.

"Heaps of New Plymouth residents have made complaints to the council about this" one resident told infonews.co.nz

When we had an interview with Ashlee Tipton she told infonews.co.nz that she was outraged with the New Plymouth Council "They can think about evicting a man living on a beach but they can't fix our serious problems with traffic and roading." She continued to say "Our roading is terrible, it really can not get any worse. We moved to Taranaki after hearing of its vibrant culture but after five years it really hasn't turned out what we thought it would be."

She then claimed that New Plymouth has the worst council in New Zealand and this morning she confirmed to infonews.co.nz that she and her family would be leaving New Plymouth "We have thought about it and can't be bothered with a city that doesn't care about their residents or 'people'. We are leaving for good."

And it didn't get any better after that, once we published that one family had left New Plymouth others told us that they would be moving soon aswell.

A local newspaper survey asked "Beachcomber Eric Brewer is to be evicted from his beach home. Is that right?"

  • Yes, he has no right to be there. - 15%
  • No, he's lived there close to 20 years. - 80%

  • Don't care. - 6%

While it was presumed that Mr Brewer lived off the sea right at his doorstep, he put the paper right during an extensive chat about his alternative philosophies inside his home with its marram grass floors on Thursday.

When asked if he went fishing for food he replied: "Why would I when I can chuck $10 across the bar and get it all cooked and battered?"

And thawing near the little stove burner was a packet of frozen hoki he was cooking for that night's tea.

He grew up on a farm near Parihaka, the middle child of seven, and in his working life he has been a farmer, shearer, bushman, and spent 11 years on the gaslines.

Have your say below! Are you from out of New Plymouth? Tell us your thoughts in the comment box.