Christmas for some Masterton witches has been caught up in a cut-and-thrust customs war over imported ceremonial knives.
Dave Hannay, owner of Napier retail outlet King of Knives, said he has battled for a year with customs officers over a consignment of 230 fake knives and swords that were in part
bound for covens in Masterton as well as freemasons across New Zealand.
Mr Hannay said some of the Chinese-made knives and swords had been destined for witches in Masterton that comprise a major and a minor coven in the town.
"The daggers for the Masterton covens and there are covens in towns all across New Zealand, they're not just in Masterton have odd things like eyes and pyramids on them. They're in the freemasons' style with spirituality in the blades and handles," he said.
"There used to be a lot more covens in Masterton but I think there's only a couple now, although there is one big one there. It's a major coven."
Mr Hannay, who is also a medieval re-enactment enthusiast, said customs officers seized the consignment of double-edged knives and swords on December 21 last year and had failed to appear at a civil court hearing last week about their release to Mr Hannay.
He said the intercepted load comprised 60 dragon-handled double-edged swords, 50 slide knives and 120 daggers with twisted blades, ranging in length from 20cm to 48cm.
He said the knives and swords featured hilts of hard plastic covered with nickel and resin and blunt stainless steel blades, and fell into the category of offensive weapons because of the double edges.
"Generally the covens are made up of menopausal women without meaning any disrespect whose children have grown and left home. They seem to get more in touch with the world and nature. It's more a social thing I think, not just spiritual or personal."
Mr Hannay said the civil hearing had been adjourned to January to give customs officers an opportunity to put their case and for a second Christmas in a row, the knives and daggers would remain undelivered.
"The 120 freemason groups who ordered the knives have cancelled and the Masterton covens were expecting theirs in time for Christmas but that won't be happening now either."
