On the the people of Glen Innes – Harawira
Posted on October 12, 2012 by admin in Hone Harawira, Press Releases
Like hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders I was also raised in a state house but it wasn’t till I grew up that I truly appreciated the commitment that government used to make to ensuring that every family had a decent home to live in.
Those days are sadly gone.
For some time now I have watched the Minister of Housing, Phil Heatley, make disparaging remarks about the poor and bad jokes about evicting them from their homes, including his National Party colleagues making raucous comments about the folks at Glen Innes.
I have watched the people of Glen Innes torn apart by a deliberate government strategy to evict families who have grown up, married and had children and mokopuna there over the past 40 years.
I have seen people in despair over the broken promises and the flat out lies from government ministers and their officials who promised them they “would never have to leave”.
I have seen a community grow in strength as they learned to defend themselves.
I have watched government try to break that spirit with a massive police presence, truck-trailers, tow trucks, contractors and a massive wage bill, week after week, as they pull homes out of Glen Innes so that government can sell the land to their property developer friends who will build homes that nobody in GI can afford to rent.
And yet through all that I see by their actions, the love that the people of GI have for their neighbours, their friends and their community, and the support they get from all over Auckland.
Last night I heard young people describe the police brutality of the previous week; I saw three young women perched for hours on a house roof to stop its removal; I saw kaumatua and kuia trying to stop the police from arresting peaceful protesters; I saw Pacific Islanders standing alongside their Maori cousins; and I saw journalists and council workers and students and musicians and grandmothers and teachers standing together to defend the rights of the poor.
And today I ask that we recognise them for their efforts and send the community of Glen Innes and their supporters all the support we can.
ENDS
For more information please contact Malcolm Mulholland on 027 765 6380.
Hone will appear in Auckland District Court on Wednesday 17th October to face a charge of “Failing to remove a vehicle from a road”.
Penny Bright says:
Post Author October 12, 2012 at 1:09 pmGood on you Hone.
It was QUITE a night!
Nothing like trying to put out a fire by pouring a 44 gallon drum of petrol upon it!
How come the Police didn’t arrest ACT MP John Banks for electoral fraud, or for signing Huljich Kiwisaver Scheme registered prospectuses that contained untrue statements?
Seems Police are a bit picky over which MPs they arrest and charge?
All the best.
Cheers!
Penny Bright
Penny Bright says:
Post Author October 13, 2012 at 10:00 amhttp://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2012/10/general_debate_13_october_2012.html#comment-1033758
(Just posted this comment on Kiwiblog! Should help get the bugs jumping!
http://mana.net.nz/2012/10/on-the-the-people-of-glen-innes-harawira/
“Hone will appear in Auckland District Court on Wednesday 17th October to face a charge of “Failing to remove a vehicle from a road”. ”
On Thursday 11 October 2012, I was present at Lunn Avenue, Mt Wellington, where Tamaki Housing Group members and supporters were protesting about the removal of yet another Glen Innes state house – which was loaded on a truck – ready for removal.
I rang Auckland Area Commander of Police – Inspector Andrew Coster at approximately 11pm, and told him that 5 paddy wagons and about 6 Police cars were on their way, and I was there as an ‘Independent Public Watchdog’ to make sure there was no untoward behaviour by Police and if there was I would be seeking a meeting with himself and Auckland District Commander of Police – Superintendent Michael Clements.
When the Police surrounded the truck with the house upon it – I told them over the megaphone at approximately 11.20pm, that I had just rung Auckland Area Commander of Police – Inspector Andrew Coster and passed on the message I had just given him.
I personally witnessed Hone Harawira being forcibly removed from his car Thursday 11 October 2012.at approximately 12pm.
The Tamaki Housing Group and supporters are PEACEFUL PROTESTORS and should be treated as such by Police.
Police protocols for policing demonstrations are supposed to be based upon the following principles:
(1) During demonstrations Police must balance the need to maintain order against the rights of citizens.
Among those rights are:
• Freedom of speech;
• Peaceful demonstration
• Security of life and property; and
• Freedom from intimidation or interference
(2) In policing demonstrations, members of the Police should:
• Maintain teamwork and discipline;
• Exercise tact, tolerance and restraint;
• Remain impartial;
• Use their powers reasonably and properly.
The BIG issue here – is upon whose LAWFUL instructions are the Police acting?
Upon what LAWFUL basis are these state houses from Glen Innes being removed?
Why are the Police effectively supporting ‘democracy for developers’?
The other issue is – note the difference between the Police action against Mana Leader, MP Hone Harawira – who was making a stand to help protect the Glen Innes community, and the lack of Police action against ACT Leader, MP John Banks (for alleged electoral fraud + signing Huljich Kiwisaver Scheme registered prospectuses dated 22 August 2008 and 18 September 2009 which contained untrue statements – a strict liability offence under s.58(3) of the Securities Act 1977)
I was involved in making formal complaints to Police on both those matters.
http://www.pennybright4epsom.org.nz
http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption campaigner’
Barbara Jephson says:
Post Author October 15, 2012 at 4:56 amThanks Hone I appreciate all that you have done from the bottom of my heart!
Maxy says:
Post Author October 16, 2012 at 5:01 pmThat is right Mr Hone Harawira tell it like it is! From the “get go” my expression of dissatisfaction: I am unhappy about the service I had received from Police and want to receive an explanation why? In reagrds to the Thursday night on the 4.11.2012 and last 11.10.2012 Thursday night the misconduct or neglect of duty by police officers a policy, procedure or practice of New Zealand Police. Also the standard of service we had received during those nights we had protested was unacceptable. Last Thursday night on the 11.10.2012; I saw with my own eyes, one of the police officer’s who was standing in front of the house, that was going to be moved. Taking a black batton out of a black police bag, when I caught him swiftly and told him to put that weapon back in the black bag. That is not needed here! We are without fault when it comes to our peaceful protest, it only turns ugly. When the police officers step out of line and start getting pushy and there voices project that along with their actions display that clearly with intent to cause grevious bodily harm. Our whanau of the Glen Innes Community have the rights to a peaceful protest, that fall under the If for whatever reason you want to voice your political opinions publicly, it is important that you are aware of any limitations that are imposed on you.
The NEW ZEALAND BILL OF RIGHTS ACT 1990 gives every New Zealander the right to freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly. However, these freedoms are not absolute: they are limited by other people’s rights as well as by other reasonable limitations that can be justified in a democratic state.
Planning a demonstration
When planning a peaceful demonstration you should inform the Police of your intention. They will be able to inform you whether the local authority for your particular area requires permits for public demonstrations. If so, you will need to obtain a permit, which may have conditions attached to it.
The general practice is to allow the use of placards as long as they are not too large and are not obstructive.
And this all evident in what we do an how we go about protesting: When can the Police intervene in a demonstration?
The Police can intervene in a demonstration if the behaviour of any demonstrators amounts to an offence. Commonly this includes:
obstructing or assaulting Police officers
breaching the peace
offensive behaviour or language
The three key points above are already actioned by the police, without our protestors saying or doing much besides walking and getting pushed and stomped by police. Therefore the police officers in the line of duty their intent is to cause grevious bodily harm regardless, so who is the commanding officer in charge? The reason this person of significance is not seen or visible to us. Because they are hidden by the police officers. Most of the time the officers on duty, while during our protests lose control and go on a rampage.
We Are a Community – Not a Company.