Hamilton resolute on Ngawha noho

Corrections Department project leader of the Ngawha prison, John Hamilton, says he is confident the police will remove the noho rangimarie at a time that suits them.

He says there is nothing to negotiate with kaitiaki at the site. He says the negotiated agreement to use the designated area is no longer in force and anyone at the noho is now trespassing. He was unaware of the details of the fire that sparked the current eviction threat. He says he did not know that police and firefighters had only been called some two hours after the fire was lit.

Northland police are reluctant to discuss the situation, referring journalists to the Department of Corrections for comment.

Iwi Liaison officer Paddy Whiu says however that the police do not want a confrontation at the noho.

A large crane was moved to the roadway near the noho last night and the front gates have been removed. Corrections iwi liaison officer Danny Hauraki is currently in Wellington.

Mr Hauraki had told kaitiaki in May that the department wanted the noho shut down by the end of that month.

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