Ihumātao: Police numbers reduced at protest site

Friday, 16 August 2019

Police will work to reduce numbers at Ihumātao, while increasing Māori wardens to ensure safety

Police have reduced their numbers at the Ihumātao protest site, following a promise from deputy police commissioner Wally Haumaha last week.

A single police vehicle and a 'small number' of Fletcher Building contract vehicles left the protest site on Friday morning, Counties Manukau police district commander Superintendent Jill Rogers confirmed.

Police deputy commissioner Wally Haumaha previously said the police presence would be reduced, with increased numbers of Māori wardens on site to keep everyone safe.

Ihumātao protesters sing at the front line.

'We want to maintain a presence here … It's just about ensuring everyone is sticking to the rules. And that is the trust and assurances I've been given by those in the village here,' he told media at Ihumātao last week.

**READ MORE:

* [Ihumātao police deny pushing protester to ground

](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/114775353/ihumtao-ardern-says-still-no-plans-to-visit-site?rm=m)* Ihumātao: Police presence increased, then de-escalated at site

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

Ealier in August, police deputy commissioner Wally Haumaha said the police presence at Ihumātao would be reduced.

* Ihumātao protest: Police presence to be reduced, says Deputy Police Commissioner Wally Haumaha**

Qiane Matata-Sipu speaks to media about interactions with police at Ihumātao.

On Friday, Rogers said police had removed the vehicles as they were needed for work in other areas.

'Our dialogue with protest organisers remains ongoing and we continue to assess our operational response as required.'

Haumaha's visit to the protest site followed heated scenes in which protest leader Pania Newton alleged she had been 'rammed' by police with a gate and had fallen to the ground.

Rogers denied the claims and said presence at the site had been increased after protesters alerted police of their intentions to reoccupy the land.

'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.'