Ihumātao: Police deny pushing protester to ground

Tuesday, 6 August 2019

Police have denied they pushed someone over in heated scenes at the Ihumātao protest site on Monday night. 

Protest leader Pania Newton said on Tuesday morning she had been 'rammed' by police with a gate and had fallen to the ground.

The alleged incident happened after numbers of both police and protesters increased rapidly on Monday night at the site, the scene of a disputed housing development.

On Tuesday Superintendent Jill Rogers, Counties Manukau District Commander, said police increased their presence at the site after being told by protesters they intended to reoccupy the land.

**READ MORE:

* Ihumātao: Police presence increased, then de-escalated at site

* Ihumātao: Police deny carrying firearms at protest after Facebook video outcry

* Ihumātao: Māori King invites mana whenua to meet to find a solution**

'Despite repeated warnings from police, a large group of protesters attempted to bypass the police cordon,' Rogers said.

'Police attempted to stop those trespassing, but protesters pushed their way past our staff. 

'The protesters eventually vacated the private land and no arrests were made.'

She rejected allegations a protester had been pushed over.

'There is misinformation being circulated suggesting that police have broken agreements with protesters. 

'Police cannot facilitate unlawful activity by allowing protesters who have been served an eviction notice to trespass on private land.'

She said police had behaved with professionalism despite being subjected to verbal abuse, 'being physically shoved and even in some cases being spat on'.

She said police would continue to assess the situation and their operational response.

Earlier Newton told the AM Show police had cordoned off the road and cut off protesters on the front line.

Worried about the number of young people at the front line, she said she made her through a gate when a police officer 'rammed' her with the gate, and she fell to the ground.

Newton said a number of male police officers were 'quite physical' with some of the female protesters. 

Newton wanted to let the public know that she was safe and OK, and no one was seriously hurt last night.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she still has no plans to visit the Ihumātao site in south Auckland

Ardern told The AM Show she understood police increased their presence overnight when 'there was just a bit of movement last night to potentially go back to an area that a court order requires people not to occupy'. But that was only what she had heard second hand.

She would not be drawn on whether the Government could facilitate the land being returned to Māori. 'The talks here are between Māori … They're looking for a for Māori by Māori solution and Government's really supporting those talks to take place,' she said.

She had not ruled out the possibility 'some time down the track' of visiting Ihumātao, but had no intention of doing so at this stage.

'I think that the most important role for us to play as Government is to try and support and facilitate talks,' Ardern said.

'They're obviously under way at present, and they are ongoing. When it comes to what's happening on the ground, obviously I would say again the same thing I said a week ago, which is while people are there we just really urge for there to be a peaceful protest to try and ensure, of course, a de-escalation.

'No one wants anything to be inflamed, particularly while talks are under way. And so we just need to create the space for that to happen and that is what's happening.'

Asked if she was open to the possibility the Government might have to become involved in a financial sense and stump up money, she said: 'I'm not coming in over the top with hypotheticals when, at the moment, these are discussions amongst Māori for Māori.'

Asked if she ruled it out, she said: 'I'm just not going to go there … because at the moment I want to allow those talks to take place.'

Newton told TVNZ's Breakfast show on Tuesday that police numbers increased significantly on Monday night.

She said police threatened to trespass and arrest protesters. 'There was a bit of panic and fear,' she said, as people were unsure why the police presence had been increased.

She said a national day of action was planned for around the country on Tuesday, but said: 'We are left somewhat confused after last night.'

Ihumātao, located near Auckland Airport, is a section of land earmarked for housing development by Fletcher Building.

The land is sacred to Māori and a group of about a dozen people have occupied it for the past three years in peaceful protest against the development.

On July 23, they were issued an eviction notice. Since then, thousands have passed through with many continuing the peaceful occupation.

Protesters have called for a 'national day of action' across the country on Tuesday, including protests outside Fletcher Building's offices and at Parliament.