Kumara grower digs toes in over patch of land
Patrick Shepherd just wants to stay on his patch of rented land and grow kumaras.
Time is ticking for this tenant though after the land was abandoned by the owners and sold by the Ruapehu District Council.
Shepherd is the last remaining member of an employment scheme called the King Country Community Garden Trust.
He has been growing kumaras on the Taumarunui plot since the scheme started in the early 90s.
He had a verbal agreement with one of the previous owners of the land – Charlean Duff – that he could stay there until he died.
Unfortunately Charlean and Aaron Duff did not pay the rates.
They eventually abandoned the property and it was sold by the Ruapehu District Council.
Now he is being labelled an illegal squatter.
He had until April 22 to leave the Tumoana St property.
To stop police from evicting him, Shepherd has gone to the Tenancy Tribunal. It will hear his case in May.
The council’s communications manager Paul Wheatcroft said the land was put out to tender and sold.
After chasing the owner for outstanding rates for over three years the land was declared abandoned under the Local Government Rating Act.
‘‘We very rarely have houses that we dispose of through this process.’’
However, that is little comfort to Shepherd who is worried his plants will be destroyed before his tribunal hearing.
Shepherd was given a verbal reassurance from Charlean Duff, a relative of his, that he could remain until he died.
It’s this verbal agreement that the Tenancy Tribunal will try to mediate with him and the new owners.
Several notices to vacate the property were sent by new owners Evan and Sarah Erstich of Woot Ltd.
In a letter to Shepherd, Evan said they would be willing to help pay for him to move.
This includes paying for bond and four weeks rent.
‘‘We would still like to work through options in a peaceful manner.’’
Shepherd says it’s a whanau [family] home and he isn’t going without a fight.
‘‘I’ve heard they want to knock it down and build houses on it. My concern is growing kai and I just disagree with the way they’ve gone around doing things.’’
Ruapehu Press