The protest
Police have denied they pushed someone over in heated scenes at the Ihuma¯tao protest site on Monday night.
Protest leader Pania Newton said yesterday 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.
This week, 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.
‘‘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.
She wanted to let the public know that she was safe and OK, and no-one was seriously hurt.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she still has no plans to visit the Ihuma¯ tao site in South Auckland
She would not be drawn on whether the Government could facilitate the land being returned to Ma¯ ori.