Blockade lifted
A six-week blockade at the entrance to a popular South Taranaki beach has been lifted, allowing visitors to return.
Members of the Te Rangatapu Reserve Trust put up signs and cones closing Ohawe Beach to anybody who did not live in the settlement of about 680 people, 8.3 kilometres from Ha¯ wera, after the country went into level four lockdown last month.
But people who tried to visit after the move to level three, which allows for wider recreational activity, found themselves aggressively driven off.
However, following talks between South Taranaki District mayor Phil Nixon and trust representatives yesterday, the barrier is to be removed and people will be able to walk or cycle to the beach.
However, given that boating, freedom camping and gatherings are still not allowed, South Taranaki District Council (STDC) and the trust agreed a temporary road barrier will be put in place to stop traffic at the top of the hill leading to the beach.
‘‘Trust members told the council they were concerned about people trying to access the trust-owned campground under Alert Level three, despite the rules that campgrounds remained closed,’’ STDC communications manager Gerard Langford said.
‘‘Reports had also been made about people doing wheelies around the carpark, and so some trust members decided the safest option would be to close the beach access altogether.’’
A Ha¯ wera couple who tried to go for a beach walk on Wednesday morning said they were confronted and abused by a man on a quad bike.
‘‘This man on a four wheeler motorbike came burning up, saying you’re not entitled to be here, go away, you’re not one of my people, you are on my land, now get the f... off,’’ Deborah Quaadgras said.
He was revving the bike engine and at one point during the ensuing argument, drove it towards her and she feared being run over.
‘‘We are all one region, we are all South Taranaki.
‘‘He was saying ‘you are not one of my people’. I said what do you mean, we are all in this together.’’
They didn’t stay to talk to the police because her husband, Eriq, who suffers social anxiety, had had enough.
On Wednesday, John Kerehoma, a former trustee, who was running the blockade, said he had been turning would-be walkers, surfers and fishermen away throughout the level four lockdown and was maintaining level 4 on the trust land.
‘‘We don’t need to go to level three, why would we? Because the Government says so? Can we not choose to be safe?’’
He said he had received support from community members for his actions.
Police patrols had visited several times, including after the confrontation with Eriq and Debra Quaadgras, Kerehoma said.
Police media communications said they had received ‘‘a handful of complaints’’ about the road being closed.
In an emailed statement, assistant commissioner districts Sue Schwalger said police were working with local communities, including Ohawe Beach, to ensure the public had access to the beach on public access ways.
During level four it had been appropriate for these to be closed to the public, she said.