Squatters seek to rally aid

A group occupying a building in Kaikohe's main street is calling a meeting at Waitangi today to muster support for the group's cause and discuss an offer for the disputed property.

Nga Uri o Tupoto is refusing to move out of offices at 47 Broadway, even though the building was sold in a mortgagee sale to Australian property investor Glenn Hannah months ago.

Last week, a judge in the Kaikohe District Court gave the group until 4.30pm last Friday to move out. The group's application for a stay was declined, but the group has since appealed that decision to the High Court.

That appeal will be heard by Justice John Priestley in the High Court at Whangarei next Thursday.

Police are unlikely to evict the group before all legal action has ended.

But a group spokesman said Mr Hannah had offered Nga Uri o Tupoto a deal so they could stay in the building.

He said Mr Hannah had offered to sell the building, but for considerably more than the $80,000 he paid for it.

The group was calling a meeting at Waitangi Marae at 10.30am today.

But Mr Hannah said members of the group had approached him saying they were interested in buying the building, and that members were organising funding.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE