Jericho Rock Archer / Stuff
An excavator loads protesters’ belongings into a dump truck after the occupiers were evicted from the Māhanga Bay site on Thursday morning.
- Police have arrested six people while evicting occupiers in Māhanga Bay
- An excavator was deployed this afternoon to clear the site.
- The occupation began with the remnants of a 23-day anti-mandate occupation on the grounds of Parliament
- Niwa and the Crown own the land on which the occupiers lived
Six people have been arrested and after almost four months an excavator has been deployed to clear the occupation site in Wellington’s Māhanga Bay.
Thursday’s six arrests included four for violation, one for obstruction and one on warrant. The court dates have yet to be confirmed.
On May 24, the police issued a violation order to the occupiers on behalf of Niwa and LINZ, who own the land, which came into effect in the evening of May 25.
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“Police issued another call this morning to about 15 occupiers to leave the area,” said a police spokesman.
Jericho Rock Archer / Stuff
Police in the compound in Māhanga Bay, which has been occupied by protesters since early March.
The occupation began at the end of the 23-day occupation of parliament in March, then turned into a protest against Māori land rights†
Police had escorted people to the site to collect their belongings, a police spokesman said.
“Property is stored securely off site and arrangements are made for owners to pick it up. Once the site has been cleared, it will be returned to the owners.”
Police said they were in the process of contacting the occupiers with Kahungungu Whānau Services to provide support.
Jericho Rock Archer / Stuff
Workers in suits carrying hazardous materials dismantle equipment after protesters were evicted from the Māhanga Bay site on Thursday morning.
City council staff had also been visiting the occupiers in recent weeks to provide welfare support, said Wellington City Council spokesman Richard MacLean.
Major Andy Foster said he was “delighted” that the occupation was finally dissolved.
“I share the frustration that I know has been felt by the local residents and in particular the amazing team working with the last rats to make Miramar predator free.”
Jericho Rock Archer / Stuff
An occupier, with things in a shopping cart, is escorted from the site by the police.
Niwa spokesman Jessica Rowley said it is working with police, LINZ and the municipality to ensure a “safe and efficient” departure for the occupiers with their belongings.
“Now that the occupiers have left the site, all remaining possessions, including vehicles, will be removed and the site secured against vehicular access,” Rowley said.
Jericho Rock Archer / Stuff
More than a dozen police officers are involved in the operation.
Rongotai MP Paul Eagle wanted to thank the local community, who had been “extremely patient” during the months the group had occupied the site.
“I’ve had a lot of communication with people who were annoyed by the situation. The locals were scared, they had seen what happened in parliament and didn’t want it to happen again,” he said.
The “mana of efforts” of Predator-Free Wellington, who had worked for several years to eradicate pests from the peninsula, had been “disrespected” by the group camped there, Eagle said.
“There has to be a dialogue with the community at some point to make sure this never happens again. It must never happen again. I was clear from the start that they are not welcome.”
KEVIN STENT/Things
The occupation’s self-described rangatira, Te Pou Raukawakawa.
Predator Free Miramar founder Dan Henry said he was glad the police had taken action.
Trappers hadn’t been around the site for a while, Henry said, but would be back soon to maintain the traps.
The occupation was dogged by concerns about antisocial behavior and unsanitary conditions and at one point grew to more than a hundred people.
KEVIN STENT
The group moved to the Niwa-owned property in early March and was issued a violation warrant in May.
The Department of Conservation was investigating an incident in the bay after images of a skinned seal were posted on social media by a member of the group late last month.
On April 19, municipal officials, aided by police, demolished two makeshift structures near the roadside at Māhanga Bay. About a dozen tents, several vehicles and a large kitchen tent remained within the fenced area.
KEVIN STENT/Things
The kitchen on the site where the occupiers have lived since March.
At the time, the occupation’s self-proclaimed rangatira, Te Pou Raukawakawa, said the group supported the actions of the municipality and police in removing a fringe group from the camp, but that they planned to remain on the spot indefinitely. to stay.
He previously said the group were occupiers from Shelly Bay who had been evicted from the site.
However, a spokeswoman for Mau Whenua, the group responsible for the occupation of Shelly Bay, has denied any ties to the group.
In April, Rowley said Niwa was in negotiations to sell the land, and that sale would require vacant property.