'Big Mama' accused of beach takeover

Tensions have boiled over at Arkles Bay in Whangaparaoa over a group of set-net fishermen led by a woman dubbed Big Mama.

Residents say that for four years she has led a group of up to 10 men in a continual fishing operation, which prevents local people from enjoying the beach.

The group sets up to six nets at a time every two days, and camp up to 12 hours in their black SUVs by the beach, waiting to retrieve their nets.

Residents who have confronted them say they have been pushed, verbally abused and even run off the footpath by their vehicles.

They claim the group have also threatened to set one resident's house on fire, and that Big Mama tailgated one woman all the way to the Orewa police station after the woman asked the group if they thought they were being greedy.

Despite occasional crackdowns by Ministry of Fisheries staff, the problems continue.

"There's hardly anybody for miles around who doesn't know what's going on. We're absolutely fed up," said one resident, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals.

He said residents had sent "hundreds" of letters to the Department of Conservation, Ministry of Fisheries, police and the Rodney District Council.

Residents have also collected a 700-signature submission, which will be presented to the council as it considers amending its public places bylaw.

But Mayor John Law said due to the statutory process involved, any changes to the bylaw would not take effect until early next year.

An amended bylaw could give council officers and police power to confiscate nets.

He said the group, who he believes is just one family, is not breaking any recreational fishing laws. Fishing laws do not place limits on net numbers and frequency, he said.

"But who would anticipate this constant dominance of a beach?"

Rodney councillor John Watson said one option the council could consider was to ban set nets from all beaches in the district.

Sergeant Steve Hawkins, of Whangaparaoa police, said many of the incidents were historic and there had been few complaints recently.

During the summer Pacific Islanders netted the beaches and some nets and catches had been confiscated, he said.

"Last summer I can't recall anyone making complaints. The summer before, yes and the summer before that yes."

Mr Hawkins said the problem seemed to be diminishing, but a resident, who would not be named, disagreed and said it could eventually lead to violence between the fishers and the locals.

The Herald was unable to contact the group accused of overfishing.

- additional reporting NZPA