Land manager relieved over protesters' departure

Wikitana Popata, one of the Ngati Kahu occupiers of Taipa Point, rips up his trespass notice as he is arrested and escorted off the land last month. Photo / Northern Advocate

The manager of the Taipa property in Northland says he is happy and relieved that protesters occupying the land have left peacefully.

Todd Male said he received a call late this morning to say that the Ngati Kahu protesters had vacated the property owned by his father, Kevin, at Taipa Point, northeast of Kaitaia.

"I'm happy and just relieved that it's over," he said.

"I'm busy here in Auckland and it was soaking up a bit of my time. Hopefully it's all tidied up."

Mr Male said he hadn't been given specific reasons by the protesters about why they had decided to leave.

However, he was hopeful that there would be no repeat occupation.

"They are keen to get that piece of land under their ownership and we are keen to sell it," he said.

"It's how you thread that all together."

In October, a group began occupying the Far North District Council-owned reserve near the Taipa Sailing Club until police arrived and issued them with trespass notices.

They returned a few days later and occupied the nearby private land managed by Mr Male.

The Crown signed an agreement in principle with Ngati Kahu in January for the settlement of historical claims, although Ngati Kahu says the proposed settlement cannot be full and final as it does not return all tribal lands.

Taipa Bay Resort manager Dale Synnott said the protesters had left the area as they had found it.

"It's all nice and clean and clear," she said.

"We just hope we can get back to normal and get on with our core business."

She said both companies and residents had suffered from the disruption, with the resort already losing $56,000 for the Christmas period because of cancellations.

Meanwhile, concern remained that the protesters would return next year, she said.

"We've heard that if the Waitangi Tribunal hasn't put that piece of land on the table, they'll be back."

- NZPA