Auckland, NZ: the Destruction of a Community

Hone Harawira arrested in housing protest

Mana Party leader Hone Harawira was arrested at a protest over housing in Auckland last night

TVNZ,

12 October, 2012

Activists had occupied a state house that was being taken from the suburb of Glen Innes to Mt Wellington in preparation for redevelopment of the area.

Harawira had parked a car in the driveway, which police said obstructed the truck and trailer which was removing the house. Police said they made several appeals for Harawira to move, but had no option but to remove him from the vehicle.

He was charged with "failing to comply with a direction", and was one of seven protesters arrested during the action last night.

Three other protesters were also arrested at the same time for obstruction, while later on three others who had been on the roof of the house were charged with obstruction and wasting police time.

Mana Party Vice President John Minto has praised Harawira.

"Hone and the other protesters are heroes tonight. They have laid their bodies on the line against the might of the government who are determined

to evict people from their homes," he said.

"Shame on this government for yet again picking on the poor."

The protests have been going on for several months since Housing New Zealand began work to redevelop 156 properties in the Tamaki and Glen Innes area.

The Tamaki Housing Action Group says the work is "pulling apart their community for the purpose of privatizing houses owned by the public."

It says residents have been picketing the house removals for six months, getting arrested and then released with no charges.

Housing New Zealand said at the start of the development programme it understood that long term tenants would want to stay in their homes but housing shortages meant land had to be developed to accommodate a growing number of tenants.

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From Radio New Zealand