The Government has abandoned its attempts to sue a penniless Northland farmer and two other peace activists for $1.2 million.
Sam Land, who lives in a self-sufficient community in Whirinaki, South Hokianga, was one of the ''Waihopai Ploughshares'' who in 2008 broke into a spy base and slashed one of its two inflatable domes. The trio then prayed and waited to be arrested.
The Waihopai spy base, near Blenheim, is operated by the Government Communications and Security Bureau (GCSB). It is believed to be part of the ''Five Eyes'' network used by Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and USA to eavesdrop on global communications.
The trio - Mr Land, teacher Adrian Leason and priest Peter Murnane - were charged with burglary and intentional damage, but acquitted after a jury trial in 2010. Their defence was based on 'claim of right', with the men saying they believed they were saving lives in the US-led war in Iraq by disrupting the spy base's satellite transmissions.
The Attorney-General subsequently had the law changed so the claim of right defence could not be used again, and later that year lodged a civil claim against the trio. The $1,229,289 the government wanted included the cost of pies and beer consumed by the repair crew.