Protesters occupy prison site, warn of taniwha trouble

An angry Northland "taniwha" has spurred Ngapuhi prison opponents into occupying the Ngawha prison site indefinitely in a protest that could disrupt Waitangi Day celebrations.

The road and main gates of the prison, near Kaikohe, have been barricaded by about 150 jail opponents, who have erected a marquee to stop vehicles entering the site.

Veteran activist Titewhai Harawira said the protesters would stay "as long as it takes" for the Government to acknowledge Ngapuhi's concerns about the taniwha Takauere.

Mrs Harawira, who had a hand in persuading the crown to return to Waitangi this year, earlier warned that concerns over the prison site could lead to massive protest action on Waitangi Day.

Many Ngapuhi oppose the prison plan on cultural grounds, including that it would disturb the home of the taniwha.

However, Department of Corrections project director John Hamilton said the protesters could occupy the site for "two years until opening day" for all he cared, providing it was peaceful and did not interfere with work on the prison.

Mrs Harawira said Takauere -- a taniwha who is said to inhabit the waterways around Ngawha -- is angry with the $100 million prison construction, and his displeasure was manifesting itself in the protest actions of the Ngapuhi people.

"It is time to stop the desecration of Ngawha," Mrs Harawira said.

Prison opponents had issued a declaration on Saturday after a hikoi (peaceful protest walk) to the site, where a marquee had been erected on a permitted area.

Ngawha resident Toi Maihi said the declaration had the support of the Te Taumata Kaumatua o Ngapuhi nui-tonu (the council of Maori elders).

It said that the work on the Ngawha site must stop, the land and waterways be returned to their original state, justice be used and that the Government join Ngapuhi in a process of resolution.

The declaration has been sent to Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright, Prime Minister Helen Clark, Minister of Corrections Mark Gosche and the Ngati Rangi Hapu Development Group.

On Sunday, protesters erected a second marquee at the site entrance, obstructing the gates. This was a "minor inconvenience", Mr Hamilton said, but was not disrupting work on the site. He had given permission for opponents to protest on a cordoned area outside the site but had not expected the road to be blocked.

"I'm disappointed with the action. The local people have acted pretty well and they asked to protest peacefully on the site ... but what happened was the Harawira whanau tried to push the boundaries and blocked the road access," Mr Hamilton said.

Contractors were using an alternative access, trucks were currently not needed on the site and the protesters were not interfering with the work, he said.

"People are entitled to their beliefs, just like my six-year-old believes in Santa Claus ... but we are not desecrating anything. We have been through every court in the land and it is quite clear that the site is not wahi tapu."

Senior Sergeant Warwick Burr of Kaikohe police said they had not been asked to intervene in the situation, which was at this stage a matter between the Corrections Department and the protesters. Police would keep an eye on the situation.

Mr Gosche said that as long as there was no disruption to work he was happy for the protesters to remain and "for the dialogue between the protesters and the department to continue".

- NZPA