Maori squatters allowed to stay in building until appeal is heard

Glenn Hannah bought the Broadway building in April but has not been able to access it as Gina Craig and her group have refused to move out. Photo / Greg Bowker

The owner of a Kaikohe building taken over by squatters says he's frustrated the group hasn't been evicted.

Australian Glenn Hannah bought 47 Broadway in April, but has yet to spend a day in the building as it has been occupied by protest group Nga Uri o Tupoto Maori.

The group says that native title to the land supersedes any other legal title, despite district court Judge Keith de Ridder rubbishing this claims last week. He gave it until last Friday to leave.

But yesterday, the group was still firmly ensconced after High Court judge Graham Lang ruled that Kaikohe police could not take action until an appeal was heard.

Mr Hannah said he had spoken to the squatters, including protest leader Gina Craig, over the weekend.

He said Ms Craig had been "really giving me a hard time".

"They're not moving. They've told me it's going to cost me a lot of money [going back to court]. It's more of the same, really.

"They're just going to blow out my legal costs.

"I just hope they don't damage the building."

Mr Hannah said he was getting increasingly frustrated as there seemed to be no end in sight to the dispute.

"I've got my court order but it means nothing."

Northland District Court spokesman Craig Crawford said Justice Lang had put a stay on any further eviction action until an appeal against Judge de Ridder's decision was heard.

Senior Sergeant Justin Rogers of Kaikohe said the police could act on the civil matter only once the court directed them to.

"When we get involved we need to be sure that all the avenues have been exhausted.

"We're awaiting the final outcome of the court process, as we're required to do."