Muriwai incidents raise concerns for safety

Muriwai resident Tanith Wirihana Te Waitohioterangi is calling for help from police and local government to help make Muriwai safer for everyone. Picture by Liam Clayton

A Muriwai resident tired of having their property ransacked says there needs to be a police officer permanently in the community, and increased funding for infrastructure, to help keep the community safe.

Two weeks ago, fences at  Tanith Wirihana Te Waitohioterangi’s property were rammed. The culprits stole the padlock to the fence and rummaged through the property.

This is the second time the property has been targeted. The first was in 2017 only a few months after his grandfather Dave Wilson, passed away.

Tanith says the first time occurred after a violent offender attempted to extort his home from him.

He contacted police both times. The most recent offence happened between May 4 and May 13.

“I believe that this isn’t just a ram raid that affects an individual resident but one that affects an entire community,” Tanith said.

A police spokesperson said there was no sign of any entry to the property and nothing had been taken, apart from a padlock from the gate.

“Unfortunately there are no lines of inquiry to enable us to identify the person/s responsible, so the matter has been filed pending receipt of any new information,” the Police spokesperson said.

In 2017, Tanith contacted the police after two vehicles were damaged at the property.

Police say information provided by the property owner at the time suggested this may have been retaliation by neighbours after their dog was run over. But there had been no evidence to confirm this and no charges were laid.

In response to the police statements, Tanith said it seems the police are attempting to shift the onus of blame on to the victim.

“It isn’t even an ‘alleged’ incident. It is a statement of fact until proven otherwise based on a lack of evidence.

“This would highlight a tacit shift by evasive media statements in an attempt to minimise and avert the perceived threat or danger — or to unwittingly absolve the criminals themselves by reframing or shifting the narrative.

“And we wonder why the reporting of crime has been historically low due to this approach.

“In any case, the fact that ‘retaliation’ is tolerated on law-abiding citizens is abhorrent,” Tanith said.

When the first incident happened, Tanith said a police officer told him to leave his land — turanga waewae occupied by his ancestor Te Karu Mohiti Waaka.

“I found this to be highly inappropriate.”

Tanith says since then there they have experienced groups of people standing at their gate, sometimes screaming at them in the middle of the night , threatening to do it again.

“What is even the point of reporting crime given the lack of action and reassurance?

“I have also had people break into my compound in the early hours of the morning, experiencing psychological issues, sitting outside my front gate praying. Obviously, they are under the influence of drugs and alcohol and need mental health and addiction support,” Tanith said.

Some people in Muriwai had been assaulted and some pakeke had been threatened with violence, they said.

Tanith says some people may find it funny, but he doesn’t.

“Nobody deserves to feel unsafe in their own home. Nobody deserves to have their personal safety and peace of mind disturbed in this country, or their sleep disturbed because they hear a leaf dropping outside their house and wonder whether it is being invaded.”

Tanith is the chair of Pakowhai No 2 Incorporated Blocks, a Maori farming incorporation, which recently issued a panui reassuring a commitment to people’s safety by reminding everyone that anyone accessing the Pakowhai land without authorisation, for duck-shooting or without lawful reason, may be prosecuted or removed.

“I will not speculate as to the reasons for why or who did this, but I find the timing between this panui and this incident to be very concerning and I believe there is in fact a significant risk to our safety.”

Tanith says Pakowhai has been looking into the feasibility of developing additional housing within Muriwai.

“With our rapidly expanding population and due to the increased rate of crime, I will personally extend the invitation to the New Zealand Police to post a permanent community police officer in Muriwai for the protection of our people and the neighbourhood.”

Tanith is demanding more funding for the small, predominantly Māori, community to improve infrastructure such as street lights.

“Strategic underinvestment is present within most small and primarily Māori communities.

“The absence of adequate lighting in my area makes it more susceptible to criminal activities. It is disheartening to witness the consequences of insufficient town planning and the potential risks it poses to the wellbeing of residents.”

Tanith called the police about the recent incident, but said the Manutuke officer, who he had seen two days ago, had not been informed about it. But following media requests from The Herald, Tanith heard from the local officer.

“This lack of tact and lack of action erodes public faith within the New Zealand Police and government institutions.”

Tanith says he has found most interactions with the police to be dismissive.

An example of this is in December 2016, when carvings he had done at the request of the pakeke and marae trustee of Muriwai Marae were stolen. He says the officer he spoke to took “zero notes and zero action”.

“Then speaking to the senior leadership, they wanted a community meeting instead. No investigation or action came from that.”

With regard to the latest incident, Tanith said communication had been negligent at best and at worst, non-existent.

“Perhaps there are greater priorities, and I respect that there are others who have greater needs. There are a lot of hurt and displaced people in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle. But there wasn’t even any reassurance that anything would be done.”