Despicable pressure
Sunday morning five whanau baches were torched on the Whangape coast. Ngati Haua kaumatua and kuia urge whanau to leave all matters regarding P lab operations to the police.
The wider Ngati Haua whanau are whakama with the recent activities that have gone on within the sacred mountain of Whakakoro. Ngati Haua have long waited for the return of Whakakoro to the descendants of the hapu. The manufacture of methamphetamine is a clandestine act against all communities. It threatens the well-being of our most vulnerable children and families. There is no mana in manufacturing, selling or using P, or hiding it on our sacred maunga.
Despite it being the police who uncovered the operation, certain whanau are being targeted as informants. There is too much speculation about who is responsible for the police presence. Elderly are too scared to look out their window in fear of being cast as narcs. This is a despicable pressure to put on our kaumatua and kuia.
Rest assured, Ngati Haua look forward to the matter being resolved by the police. We feel aroha for the implications to the wider whanau of this operation, as we are all related to each other. Some of the defendants have been worthy members of our marae committee in the past and have been kaimahi at many of our tangihanga, and many of those aspects cannot be taken away from them. It is hurtful that nephews and nieces are "at war" with each other over a matter that is not of their making.
