One year on from the Anniversary floods in Auckland, people are still recovering. A water safety reminder has been issued once again as another man is found dead in Wellington harbour and the government scraps Labours bill to lower the voting age to 16.
The event regularly draws about 500 contestants and features a charity fish auction at the end of each day.
Grant McCallum, a National MP who won the Northland electorate in October, had spoken to members of the local community, who had raised concerns about the jetty protest.
“A number of people have come out and said, ‘We don’t support this protest and it’s not constructive.’
“If the law is being broken, I would like to think that police will act, because it’s not acceptable that people block people going about their daily business.”
The fishing competition was “a long-standing local event that funds community services”, he said.
“As the local MP, I condemn any illegal actions that impede people going about their lawful business. This has the potential to flare up and create unnecessary tension in the community.
Grant McCallum speaking at an event in Kerikeri in August 2023. Photo / RNZ / Peter de Graaf
“I thank the local Matakairiri hapū for their statement that they do not support disrupting the competition.”
Ngāti Kahu members vowed to continue their protests against the popular fishing contest.
Some were camped out at the boat ramp again on Saturday, which forced boaties to launch in other places.
Protest organiser Wikatana Popata said that as well as the group’s concerns about the number of fish caught during the contest, they believed the organisers should have consulted iwi before staging the event.
One person was arrested on Friday for obstructing a public way, but later released with a warning.
The protest group subsequently met competition organisers for a discussion.
