Land-claim squatters ordered out

Glenn Hannah bought the Broadway building in April but has not been able to access it as Gina Craig and her group have refused to move out. Photo / Greg Bowker

Squatters in a Kaikohe commercial building - bought by a Sydney businessman at a mortgagee sale - have until tomorrow to leave before police evict them.

Gina Craig, also known as Bella Rewi or Kauae, used to run a furniture store at 47 Broadway. She was a well-known businesswoman.

However, failure to service a mortgage resulted in the TSB bank selling the $80,000 property to Glenn Hannah in April.

Since then he has been "trespassed" on by a group Ms Craig is part of - Nga Uri o Tupoto Maori Inc - and has been prevented from taking control of the building.

The group has demanded $420,000 from Mr Hannah and is also seeking $5 million from him in a separate action yet to be heard in the Kaikohe District Court.

Yesterday Mr Hannah asked for a court order to recover the property.

His lawyer, Doug Blaikie, said much of the group's argument about native title superseding any legitimate title was nonsensical.

Judge Keith de Ridder told Ms Craig in court that Mr Hannah's right to the warehouse was unimpeachable.

The group, which numbers about 14, was given until 4.30pm tomorrow to leave the property.

Nga Uri o Tupoto Maori Inc, which claims tangata whenua status over the land, said it planned action in the Maori Land Court and High Court.

Ngapuhi kaumatua Wati Eruiti, 70, attended the hearing and sat by Mr Hannah in support.

He said he was annoyed that the group had claimed tangata whenua status.

"These people know nothing about Maori tikanga. But that's what they claim - they should learn you don't do these things."

There were few enough investors in rural towns and the Far North needed business.

"All our shops are moving to Kerikeri, this man wanted to come here and do something for our town. That must be encouraged."

Ms Craig's family has also lost a house at another recent mortgagee sale. An appeal against a tenancy tribunal hearing ordering them out of the house, which they have been living in, was unsuccessful yesterday.

Mr Hannah said the situation did not have to play out like it had.

"We could have put out our hands and done a deal," he said. "They could have leased the place - it didn't have to get this far out of hand."

He had not been put off doing business in Kaikohe, he said.

"There are lots of great people here, I feel like I was destined to be here."