City group backs land occupation

A Palmerston North group has joined hundreds of protesters around New Zealand in a national day of action to support the Ihuma¯ tao occupation in Ma¯ ngere.

Up to 10 protesters at a time held signs, waved flags and encouraged passing motorists to honk in support as they picketed Placemakers on Railway Rd, from 8am to 10am yesterday.

It was one of dozens of protests held outside Fletcher properties across New Zealand and Parliament, sparked by a rapid increase in the police presence at the main protest and occupation in South Auckland on Monday night.

Palmerston North organiser and 2017 Green Party candidate for Manurewa, Teanau Tuiono, said it was a disappointing escalation to a long and peaceful protest. ‘‘The only way to resolve this is by talking. The occupation’s been there for three years. They know that, so what’s the point in rarking the crowd up now?’’

Fletcher Building bought the contested land in 2016, planning a housing development near the protected O¯ tuataua Stonefields reserve.

A dozen members of protest group Save Our Unique Landscape have occupied the land since in an attempt to halt the development. The site is one of the earliest Ma¯ ori settlements in New Zealand.

Tuiono said Placemakers was chosen as the site of the Palmerston North protest to send a message to its parent company, Fletcher.

Fletcher may have bought the land legally, but it was like receiving a stolen car. The Crown took the land from Mao¯ ri in 1863, using a made-up rebellion as a justification for confiscation, he said.