Ihumātao eviction: Dogs pepper sprayed, people arrested
Wednesday, 24 July 2019
Protesters at the long-disputed Ihumātao construction site are vowing to continue the fight, with reinforcements expected from around the country.
On Wednesday, two dogs were pepper sprayed and three people arrested at the protest in south Auckland, which saw about 300 people at its peak.
Lambton Quay in central Wellington was also blocked for a time by activists marching in solidarity.
SOUL (Save Our Unique Landscape) spokeswoman Pania Newton told the crowd at Ihumātao on Wednesday evening that more people would be arriving the next morning.
**READ MORE:
* The Ihumātao dispute explained
* Three protesters arrested at south Auckland's Ihumātao
* In photos: Police and protesters face off
* Fletcher Building to close road, blocking home of protesters at Ihumātao
* Power cut to protesters in bitter fight over land at Auckland's Ihumātao continues**
Buses would be coming from Hokianga, Taranaki and Wellington, she said.
'I expect the intensity of this peaceful protest to increase, only because people are frustrated. Enough is enough,' she told Stuff.
'Ihumātao has endured ongoing generational injustice.'
The group, which had been occupying the land in Māngere for the past three years, were served with an eviction notice on Tuesday, superintendent Jill Rogers said.
The occupiers objected to the land being turned into a housing development by Fletcher Building, citing its proximity to the Otuataua Stonefields Historic Reserve and the eviction of Māori from the land in the 1800s.
The land was wahi tapu, or sacred to Māori, they said.
Since the eviction, people have flocked to the land, where they have sung waiata, placed a tino rangitiratanga flag and planted a tree.
Rogers said police had to use pepper spray on 'two large uncontrolled and aggressive dogs' on Wednesday morning.
A woman who allegedly climbed on a truck and wedged herself between the cabin and a tray was also arrested.
She would face charges of obstruction and being unlawfully on a vehicle.
'Police fully recognise the lawful right to protest, however we also need ensure the right of others to go about their lawful business,' Rogers said.
'We urge protesters to continue to act peacefully and not behave in a manner that puts their own safety or the safety of others at risk.'
Amnesty International said independent human rights observers would be at Ihumātao on Thursday to monitor the ongoing protests.
'This is the first time we've sent human rights observers to a New Zealand event in a number of years,' Amnesty said in a statement.
Executive director Meg de Ronde said the observers would be independent of any group attending, including police.
'Independent observers are used by Amnesty around the world to ensure people's human rights are being upheld. Everyone has the right to peaceful assembly, to peaceful protests, and to freedom of expression,' she said.
'We will be documenting what we see to share with the wider public, law enforcement agencies and policymakers.'
In Wellington, a crowd – including Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson and MPs Chloe Swarbrick and Golriz Ghahraman – gathered at the Cenotaph to protest.
'The original injustice was the theft of Māori land,' Davidson said.
In a statement, SOUL co-founders said they were 'standing in solidarity with … all indigenous peoples whose sacred places are being disrespected and are at risk of being lost forever.'
They called on the prime minister, the Government and Auckland Council to intervene to stop matters escalating and asked people to come down to the land and show their support.
However, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it would be inappropriate for the Government to intervene as the local iwi, Te Kawerau a Maki, was working with Fletcher on the planned development.
Kelvin Davis, the Minister for Māori Crown Relations, said he wanted to 'publically assert' his support for the iwi.
'This is their land, their assets and their plan for their people. I support them, as tangata whenua, in asserting their rights,' he said.
'We understand that SOUL has already followed several legal avenues for a resolution, and the courts have determined that the accommodation made by developers protect Māori interests and taonga.
'I would ask SOUL to better work with Te Kawerau a Maki, and to also respect Te Kawerau a Maki's status as tangata whenua.'