Ngawha protest site cleared

Contractors are working this week to clear a site formerly occupied by protesters for more than a year near the main entrance to Northland's regional prison being built at Ngawha, northeast of Kaikohe.

The last four on-site protesters, objecting for Maori cultural reasons against construction of the 350-inmate institution, left the site peacefully on Monday after being asked to go by police.

Senior Sergeant Chris Scahill said the remaining four protesters appeared "quite happy" to leave.