Two Far North men who assaulted Prime Minister John Key have been sentenced to 100 hours' community work.
Wikatana, 19, and John Junior Popata, 33, were arrested at Waitangi on February 5 after grabbing and jostling Mr Key as he arrived at Te Tii Marae.
The brothers changed their pleas to guilty at the start of yesterday's hearing at Kaikohe District Court, surprising even some supporters in the packed public gallery - and made a heartfelt apology to "people the length and breadth of New Zealand", John Key in particular.
"But when will we get an apology for the illegal confiscation of our harbours, of the land taken from us?" Wikatana Popata asked.
Despite stirring speeches from kaumatua and relatives, including Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira, Judge John McDonald refused pleas for a discharge without conviction.
The judge agreed the assaults themselves were minor. "But what makes your assaults different, and in my view serious, is the person that you targeted was the Prime Minister ... He was assaulted by you because of who he is."
Mr Harawira asked the judge for leniency, saying Wikatana Popata had been head boy at school and had a promising broadcasting career ahead of him. Both kept away from drugs and alcohol, focusing on "trying to uplift themselves and their peers".
Prominent Maori lawyer Annette Sykes, defending Wikatana, said the brothers had by chance arrived at the marae at the same time as Mr Key. On the way they had heard news reports claiming peace reigned at Waitangi and that the Maori protest movement was dead.
They had planned to take part in a peaceful forum, but when they got out of the car they decided to show that "a deep sense of grievance was still festering".
The brothers had been punished enough with five days at Ngawha prison for an assault at the bottom end of the scale, Ms Sykes said.
Defence lawyer Jason Pou, representing John Junior Popata, said in all his client's years of protesting, he had never been in court.
Police prosecutor Russell Price said a deterrent was needed in case anyone else wanted to assault a public official.
Mr Key did not want to comment yesterday on the outcome, or the brothers' apology.
Brothers admit PM assault
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.