Racism claim in fishing row

The woman dubbed "Big Mama" for her part in a tense stand-off with residents north of Auckland over a family fishing operation is vowing to "keep on netting until there is a law against it".

Tongan woman Penina Leone has spoken out against allegations by a small group of Whangaparaoa locals that she is the ringleader of a regular fishing operation preventing other locals from enjoying the beach because of their abusive behaviour.

Residents say they have been run off footpaths and tailgated by the group, who they claim have also been verbally abusive.

Reports in a local newspaper say the residents have seen dolphins and dogs drowned in the nets, and that even children have become entangled and could have died.

But 44-year-old Mrs Leone says the allegations are "all lies" - and she's "no big mama".

She says the group is made up of only her husband, Lua, and her cousin's family, and all they are doing is fishing for their dinner.

"We know the law. We came here from the islands but have lived here for 18 years and have as much right to be there as anyone else," said Mrs Leone, speaking to the Herald on Sunday through her cousin and impromptu interpreter Sione Taufa.

The mother of two, who says they do not fish every day, believes the residents are motivated by one thing - racism.

The residents shout expletives, she said, and have told them to "go back and rape their own islands".

"I don't like them swearing in front of my children. We are church-going people."

She also finds the term "big mama" insulting.#"I find it offensive. I don't like it when they call me that."

She admits she and Sione followed residents home on different occasions - but only to get their addresses in order to make a complaint to police about the abuse.

She would not do it again.

"The police told us not to do that any more because we scared them."

Mr Taufa said rumours they sold the fish to the Tongan community at church were also nonsense. "We know the law and are not commercial fishers. We keep what we get for ourselves."

Four residents have laid complaints with the Ministry of Fisheries about the matter but officials found the family was doing nothing illegal.

That may soon change as the district council is now looking at introducing a bylaw to tackle the set-net issue.

But Mrs Leone says they will not back down.

"We know of at least six other Tongan and Samoan families who set their nets there. We have spoken with the police and the fisheries people and we are breaking no law. No charges have been made against us.

"We will keep netting until there is a law against it - and then we'll find another bay."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY