Ihumātao: Police racially abused and spat at by protesters, top officer won't rule out action

Wednesday, 7 August 2019

A video has emerged of a police officer receiving racial abuse at Ihumatao.

A video showing a police officer being racially abused by a protester at Ihumātao has been removed from Facebook.

The video, which was viewed thousands of times, appeared to show a female protester hurling racist abuse at an officer.

Police confirmed officers had been subjected to 'intimidating' and 'unhelpful' abuse at Ihumātao, and couldn't rule out taking action against perpetrators in future.

Stuff reporters who have visited the protest have also witnessed officers being racially abused and spat at.

* Three protesters arrested at south Auckland's Ihumātao

* Seven more arrested at contested Ihumātao**

Protester Anikaaro Harawira-Havili posted the video to her Facebook page on Monday, when the police presence at the contested land in south Auckland increased.

Harawira-Havili is shown saying: 'Another foreigner occupying our whenua in Aotearoa and then not even letting us on our own. F… off back to your own country,' she said.

Police say Monday's increase in officers was down to suggestions protesters were planning on trespassing.

The tensions resulted in a scuffle and protest leader Pania Newton says she was pushed, a claim rejected by police.

Counties Manukau District Commander, Superintendent Jill Rogers said: 'We are aware that at times our staff working at Ihumātao have been subjected to intimidating behaviour and verbal abuse. I would like to acknowledge the professionalism they showed on Monday night and throughout the last two weeks despite being faced with these challenges.

'Police cannot rule out any action, however our focus at this time remains on ensuring the protest remains peaceful while negotiations are underway.

'These incidents involving intimidating behaviour and verbal abuse are unhelpful and we continue to urge protesters to remain calm while those negotiations continue.

'Police have already said that it is not our wish to make arrests and any arrest is a last resort. In the first couple of days police did arrest multiple people in relation to disorder. There have been no arrests on site since Wednesday July 24.'

Harawira-Havili further posted about the video on Wednesday morning: 'Truth. Yes, I abused the s… out of the officers that tried to Dawnraid us at Ihumātao. Particularly the Senior Sergeant that knocked 3 Wahine over,' she wrote.

'Truth #2. I don't apologize at all!'