Justice Best Served in Your Own Hands?

That’s the age old question, of course, but when it comes to recovering your stolen goods in New Zealand there’s no other option!

John and Wikatana Popata, the two brothers who slapped the PM  John Key around at Waitangi last year have occupied a plot land in the Far North to stop it being developed.

They occupied a former motor camp at the Taipa property during the weekend, The New Zealand Herald reported.

Their action was approved by the local Ngati Kahu iwi and said they wanted no land sold at Mahaetai at Taipa and they wanted the stolen land returned to Ngati Kahu.

At their 2009 trial the two brothers admitted assaulting John Key at the Te Tii Waitangi Marae last February to protest land being confiscated from Maori.

The court sentenced the two to 100 hours’ community work.

“Yesterday, John Popata said it was time for the land to be returned and if that did not happen, success might be measured in buyers keeping away.” NZPA reported.

“In our hearts we want it back. But would you buy land here if Maori were jumping up and down about stolen land?”

Ngati Kahu Treaty claims remain unsettled.

“Chief negotiator Margaret Mutu said the tribe was edging towards a settlement but many in the iwi were upset that private land, which is not covered by settlements, would not be returned to them.” The report said.

She said even if the settlement went ahead, they would still only get back no more than 20 percent of their stolen land.

Related Links:

• Maori Headlines