Big bill possible from power plant protest

Four Greenpeace activists convicted and fined for occupying the Marsden B power station may still face thousands of dollars in costs if a civil action is taken against them by Mighty River Power.

Kate Lowe, Malcolm Wren, Raoni Hammer and Gareth Moon yesterday pleaded guilty in Whangarei District Court to charges of unlawful occupation of the Marsden B building at Ruakaka in February.

Trespass charges against them were dropped.

They had scaled the building to protest at Mighty River Power's plans to refire the station using coal.

Moon came down after two days but the other three stayed on the roof for nine days before climbing down and being arrested.

Judge Thomas Everitt yesterday fined Moon, who had a previous conviction, $300 and ordered him to pay $130 court costs.

Lowe, Wren and Hammer, who had no previous convictions, were fined $200 each plus $130 court costs.

They had applied for diversion and no criminal record. However, Judge Everitt said they had to face their crime.

"There must be consequences to people who carry out these sorts of protests under the banner of Greenpeace or whatever," the judge said.

"Most protesters regard it as a badge of honour to have a conviction. You want to get the glory but you don't want the consequences. Sorry, there are consequences for you."

Judge Everitt did, however, reject an attempt by Mighty River Power to get back over $19,000 from the foursome -- the amount it had spent on security during the occupation. Instead the company would have to take a civil court case against them to go down that path, he said.

Mighty River Power's general manager of external affairs Neil Williams yesterday said the company would discuss whether to take a civil action, but would not comment further.

The activists were philosophical about their convictions.

"This is just the beginning of the battle," Mr Moon said. "It's the community who live at Ruakaka who will have to bear the brunt of what may or may not happen. Our thoughts are with them."

Greenpeace called a community meeting in Whangarei last night to work with local people on ways to keep up the fight against Mighty River Power's plans.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)