An occupation at a Far North reserve that included a stand-off between protesters and Mayor Wayne Brown has ended.
A group led by the Popata brothers, Wikitana and John, originally said they would not leave the site adjoining the Taipa Sailing Club and popular boat ramp until the land had been
returned.
But the protest, which lasted just under two weeks, quietly finished on Saturday with the group packing up camp at about 3am.
The exit came before a trespass notice was issued.
Wikitana and John Popata said other things were likely to happen in the next few weeks as part of the group's drive to promote its message that their land was unfairly taken.
"It's part of our strategy," said Ngati Kahu member John Popata.
"We weren't interested in sitting around until we got arrested."
Mr Popata said he had met Ngati Kahu's runanga to discuss further action, saying the occupation had been a model of how New Zealand could be if the foreshore and seabed were returned to Maori ownership.
During the occupation everyone had been free to keep using the Taipa Point reserve and its popular boat ramp if they asked permission first and respected the land and the sea.
Taipa Sailing Club commodore Dean Lutze said the group's point had been put forward and the club would be meeting with Ngati Kahu to help resolve ongoing issues.
The club's secretary, Schelle Thomas, said the club would honour requests from Ngati Kahu such as not throwing fish waste in the river and other issues that affected local hapu.
Far North Mayor Wayne Brown said he was pleased.
