City takes hard line with Black Power pad's new owner

The Jolson Rd house was used as a base for a Black Power cannabis ring.

Auckland City Council has issued enforcement warnings about illegal structures at a Black Power stronghold - but only after the building was bought by a new owner and the gang moved out.

The Herald revealed yesterday that gang members were again using the two-level house in Mt Wellington despite it being confiscated and sold under the Proceeds of Crime Act in January.

The new owner, who asked not to be named, declined to comment other than to say he was having trouble with the council.

Last night, a council spokesman confirmed staff were investigating breaches of the District Plan, some of which date back to 1989. But council spokesman Glyn Jones said it was a coincidence that the compliance issues were enforced after Black Power moved out.

A neighbour complained about fresh building works - a window in a block wall - undertaken by the new owner, and the subsequent council investigation uncovered more significant district plan breaches, said Mr Jones.

The biggest breach is the size of the building on the site. As a residential zoned property, the owners are allowed 35 per cent building coverage - in this case it is 75 per cent.

The property on 25 Jolson Rd is supposed to have 40 per cent grassed or landscaped areas, but has none.

Mr Jones said the compliance issues dated back to 1989 when Auckland City Council had records of meetings with the gang-related Piki Mai Trust.

These breaches related to additions to the eastern and western sides of the dwelling, a lean-to at the rear and an ablution block - which are all currently being enforced.

The property was sold in 1991 without the problems being fixed. It eventually became the hub of a cannabis ring masterminded by owner Mark Pitman, the president of Black Power NZ, which was turning over $1.5 million a year.

He was later convicted and the Mt Wellington property seized and sold by the Official Assignee.

The Herald revealed yesterday that the house is now being leased back to associates of the Black Power chapter, despite suggestions that the property should have been demolished.