The road to Cape Reinga still illegally blocked by Ngāti Kuri

“It's my customary rights and I’m prepared to knock you out if you pass that gate,” a person blocking access says in a video filmed by Northland MP Matt King.

Dozens of motorists are being blocked from accessing Cape Reinga by local iwi despite tourism and hospitality in the region trying to encourage visitors to the area. This unlawful activity contravenes several laws, and yet is reportedly supported by the Department of Conservation.

Now NZ First MP Shane Jones has weighed in, calling for Northland Iwi Ngāti Kuri to open up the road immediately saying their reasons for erecting a large gate across State Highway One is 'cultural mumbo jumbo'.

See TVNZ's coverage here:
National MP in confrontation with members of local iwi after being refused access to Cape Reinga
Shane Jones calls iwi's reason for barring access to Cape Reinga 'cultural mumbo jumbo'

Iwi Roadblocks

Labour boasts of roadblock partnership

Jun 15, 2020

Two Labour Members of Parliament have confirmed the claim by Democracy Action that the Government and Police condoned the illegal iwi roadblocks on public roads. Tamati Coffey (Labour - Waiariki) and Kiri Allan (Labour – List MP living in the East Coast) have stated that these roadblocks were “well supported” by the Government and that police “helped with the checkpoints”. Continue reading

Iwi checkpoints “show the way” for Treaty partnership

Jun 15, 2020

Meng Foon and Paul Hunt of the Human Rights Commission use the illegal roadblocks as an admirable illustration of the Treaty of Waitangi 'partnership' principle. It is a model they would like to see replicated. “The two treaty partners collaborated – with kāwanatanga, or governorship, represented through local councils, Civil Defence and the Police, and rangatiratanga, the authority of chiefs, upheld by hapū and iwi”. “This relationship between rangatiratanga and kāwanatanga is ready to be used across all aspects of government during the recovery programme. The time has come,” they write. Continue reading

Royal Commission needs to investigate illegal roadblocks

Jun 15, 2020

Democracy Action fully supports recent calls for a Royal Commission into the COVID-19 response, and strongly suggests its remit includes an expert examination of the legality, or more likely illegality, of iwi roadblocks. Euphemistically called ‘community checkpoints’, these roadblocks purported to protect isolated communities from the pandemic but were inconsistent with legal instructions to the general public. Continue reading

This is how the Treaty partnership works in practise, folks

Jun 15, 2020

The partnership interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi is manifesting in a myriad of ways. The recent unlawful closure of the road to the North Cape by Ngati Kuri, with the collaboration of government agencies including the Department of Conservation, the NZ Police and the NZ Transport Agency, is but another example. Continue reading

Response to illegal roadblocks is "inadequate and unacceptable"

May 01, 2020

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been called on to step in and provide strong and unequivocal leadership on the continuing and growing proliferation of illegal roadblocks. Democracy Action says that the self-appointed community activists and patched gang members manning the roadblocks have been emboldened by Police inaction on the clear offences. The Police seem to have taken their lead from Minister of Police Stuart Nash’s soft stance. Continue reading

"It is disgraceful" - Gang members participating in illegal roadblocks

Apr 21, 2020

During the COVID-19 epidemic, all New Zealanders are subject to lawful travel restrictions designed to protect public health, and which are enforceable by the police. Those who blatantly flout the restrictions can be arrested. There is however one group which appears to be above the law, and community group Democracy Action is calling on the government to take immediate action against the illegal blockades on public roads. Continue reading

THE OFFICAL SUPPORT FOR ILLEGAL ROADBLOCKS IS UNTENABLE

May 08, 2020

The vigilantes manning the unauthorised roadblocks on public roads have no more legal authority to do so than your neighbour. Despite this, the highest authorities in Government and Police are encouraging these self-appointed groups to stop New Zealanders travelling and to turn them back if, in their inexpert opinion, motorists are breaking travel restrictions. Continue reading