Minister: Group 'can go to hell'

Wikatana Popata (left), John Popata and whanau with some of the signs they have erected at Taipa Point. Photo / Christine Cornege

Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson says a group of Ngati Kahu protesters can "go to hell" if they think he'll meet them after a group moved on to land near Taipa.

The protesters were evicted and arrested from Far North District Council land at Taipa last week.

But yesterday, they moved on to adjacent coastal land, owned privately by Aucklander Kevyn Male.

A group of more than 50 went on to the land about 1pm yesterday.

The move followed a picnic at a council reserve organised by businesswoman Dale Synott for local people who are sick of the continuing protest action.

Mr Finlayson was incensed when he found the protesters had changed tack from occupying land outside the Taipa Sailing Club to neighbouring land, he was incensed.

Asked about the reoccupation by the protesters who are led by brothers John and Wikatana Popata, Mr Finlayson said the Crown and iwi were already working out Treaty grievances.

The brothers argue that private land should return to Ngati Kahu, but successive governments have rejected this approach to Treaty settlements.

The pair became notorious when they assaulted Prime Minister John Key last year and recently wrote a letter seeking a meeting with Mr Finlayson.

There was no way that was going to happen, Mr Finlayson said.

"Well, they can go to hell because I'm not going up there.

"Their behaviour is disgraceful. There is an established negotiation way through with Ngati Kahu. I signed an [agreement in principle] with them in Ahipara at the beginning of the year, it's well advanced.

"There are ways in which you raise issues about cultural redress. This is not one of them. I think they're stupid."

John Popata said he believed it was legitimate that a group could protest at the same time as leaders negotiated with the Crown.

Mr Popata said he didn't have much sympathy for Mr Male.

"It's not fair to anyone - we've all been deprived of our lands. They're not the only ones getting hurt.

"We're here to stay. This is our papakainga. We're not going away, if you kick us off here we'll go occupy somewhere else."

Family spokesman Todd Male said the family were weighing up whether the occupiers who were setting up camp were trespassing.