Police evict trust members from Port Waikato house

By AINSLEY THOMSON

Police have evicted members of a Maori trust illegally occupying a house in Port Waikato.

The trust - Nga Uri O Tahinga - has been causing tension in the small coastal town by claiming sovereignty over land and trying to evict residents from their homes.

Residents said they were being intimidated by trust members.

Five weeks ago the trust occupied a house that belongs to a second trust, Ngati Tahinga Ngati Karewa, and is being administered by the Public Trust.

On Thursday the Pukekohe District Court granted the Public Trust a warrant for possession of the land. This was passed on to police, who evicted the members of the trust occupying the house.

The trust had come to the attention of the police after two burglaries and an assault.

Police also sent a letter to Port Waikato residents saying that although they might have suffered "abuse, threats or even intrusions to your property" they should not take matters into their own hands.

Senior Sergeant Rob Arnold, area commander for Franklin and Pukekohe, said the eviction went peacefully.

Nga Uri O Tahinga member Reweti Waikato told the Herald the occupiers were happy to be evicted because it would raise their profile.

"We were getting worried that no one was interested in our affairs."

He said the land belonged to the trust and a closed meeting would be held on October 4 to decide how to get it back.