Mystery at dog kennel deepens
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 she had been ‘‘rammed’’ by police with a gate and had fallen to the ground.
Superintendent Jill Rogers, Counties Manukau district commander, said police increased their presence at the site, the scene of a disputed housing development, after being told by protesters they intended to reoccupy the land. She rejected allegations a protester had been pushed over. She said police had behaved with professionalism.
In Wellington hundreds of people gave up their lunch break to stand at Parliament in support of the protest action. FLETCHER’S PLANS A man has been charged for having an improvised explosive device after an armed police search of Woofington’s Luxury Dog Stay.
The dog kennel, a castle-like building beyond the Brooklyn wind turbine on Hawkins Hill Rd, was searched by police on Thursday.
Woofington’s owner, developer and financier Brian Willman, says he is mystified as to why police searched the castle and knows nothing of the charge.
A police spokesman confirmed yesterday that a 47-year-old man had been charged with possession of the improvised explosive device. He will appear at the Wellington District Court tomorrow.
Willman said police had not spoken to him since Thursday and he was not the person charged.
‘‘That size operation, they’re obviously looking for anything and everything. I think it’s just someone has said something to the police, or tipped off something, or tried to cause me, cause the business, trouble.
‘‘We’ve had a few disgruntled staff – maybe it’s that, I don’t know.’’