Hapu fear for their children Police invasion

On the morning of November 26th 2009 approximately 6.00am, Police under the command of senior sergeant Peter G Robinson, officer in charge of Kerikeri Police Station, Willy More, Iwi liaison officer, conducted an unprecedented raid upon the Hapu Te Whanaupani Ki Owharepapa Tangitu, who were in residence upon their Customary Ancestral whenua situated in the Omahuta, Otangaroa Forest.

Due to a tip off that police were coming to remove and trespass them off their ancestral whenua and were coming fully armed with side arms and automatic rifles. The hapu on this morning attended a church service at another marae awaiting the arrival of a new Whare karakia, a karakia also for them being fearful of police unleashing unnecessary and willful force upon the hapu. The hapu resorted to protect their young children and teenagers from this deliberate form of intimidation and harassment. They opted to remain away from their whenua, marae, and home.

Police swooped upon their unoccupied Marae entering by way of the Puketiti Waiare roads, Mangamuka Omahuta roads and Pupuke road, only to be greeted with the ahi ka (the hapu fire). 30 police cars along with 60 police officers fully armed were deployed for this operation a total abuse of Justice when a simple phone call to discuss these matters would have sufficed.

Senior sergeant Peter Robinson being fully aware and being in agreement with Hapu Rangatira that a meeting should be arranged, agreed to be mediator for the Hapu and JNL to meet. For whatever reason he chose to disavow this agreement and conduct a full frontal assault on this Hapu remains a mystery.

The hapu wharenui (meeting house) whare kai (dining room) whare moe (sleeping house) were flattened and destroyed, with minimal property of the hapu being returned, police refusing to allow the hapu to collect their belongings. This is considered a viscous attack on Hapu Tikanga. Property which was returned was taken to Te Patunga Marae on Kaeo Transport trucks, escorted by police officers who were denied entry on arrival.

The Hapu have been resident on their ancestral whenua since 1st August 2009, as a result of Juken New Zealand Ltd’s illegal logging practices of native Kauri, Kahikatea, Totara, Rimu and the total desecration of the whenua (land), streams and rivers, this being deemed as ‘Acceptable Practice.’

Juken New Zealand paid cutting rights of 800 million dollars to the New Zealand Parliament Corporation. Motive? Is it the money

Juken New Zealand to date has refused a number of invitations to come and discuss these issues with the Hapu, but have chosen to refer the matter to the police. Land Information New Zealand continues to acknowledge Juken New Zealand Ltd, as the legal occupier owner of the Otangaroa State Forest yet have no certificate of land sale from Tangata Whenua or a receipt of crown purchase (UK). This matter will continue to be refuted by the Hapu Rangatira, and whanau.

Juken New Zealand Ltd have now employed security guards within the Otangaroa State Forest, erecting 2 sets of new gates to restrict unauthorized entry of the Hapu from their ancestral lands. Despite this act, the road continues to be a public road giving the Hapu and public access to Mangamuka.

A meeting has been called at Te Patunga Marae to discuss the actions of the police and for the Hapu to formulate a plan of action. Rangatira, Allen Heta has stated that this matter is far from over, and being removed from their Ancestral Land will not solve anything . To all the whanau, Hapu, and local supporters who have stood to tautoko this kaupapa, Nga mihi arohanui kia koutou katoa. Me haere tonu te kaupapa ki te mutunga. Kia kaha, kia u, kia maia, manawa nui. Ma te matua e manaaki e tiaki tatou katoa I nga wa katoa.

A warning to all who enter these Ancestral lands that a RAHUI MANA TAPU MAKATU was placed upon the whenua on the second day of residence by Kaumatua and Kaumatua matakite. This is the highest of all TAPU Rahui with the curse falling upon children and mokopuna of all those who entre without consent from the Hapu.

This matter has been placed at the feet of the Nga Rangatira o nga Hapu o Nu Tireni resident in Waitangi.