Building dispute off to court

A businessman locked out of a Kaikohe building bought at a mortgagee sale two months ago will have his day in court today.

Australian Glenn Hannah, who owns several properties in the Mid North town, wants the Maori sovereignty group Nga Uri o Tupoto out of the building.

The group, which includes the widow of the building's former owner, has been based there for several years, but it was sold when it failed to keep up with mortgage payments.

Nga Uri o Tupoto's rangatira council said it did not dispute Mr Hannah held the legal title to the building and invited him to take the building away if he wished. However, it said it was entitled to stay on the land.

"He bought a piece of paper ... but we believe we're legitimately and lawfully on the land. It's about the whenua, not the building."

Mr Hannah's lawyer, Doug Blaikie of Rawene, told Radio NZ he should not have to go to court to get the group evicted.

Mr Blaikie said the sale was lawful and the group was using "nonsensical sovereignty claims" to thumb its nose at the law.

He said the police could evict the group with a trespass notice, but they would not act until a court order was issued.

Instead, Nga Uri o Tupoto has issued its own trespass notice against Mr Hannah. A sign on the building bars employees or agents of the police, the Ministry of Justice or any "fraudulently created fictitious corporate entities", including the Government.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE