Waiheke marina: Guard apparently kicked in head in video showing extent of tension
Tuesday, 13 July 2021
A newly-released video appearing to show a Waiheke Island marina construction security guard being kicked in the head highlights the extent of the tension in the Kennedy Point occupation.
Last week, opponents of the marina took over a construction pontoon after a day of escalating violence.
The video, from July 7, appeared to show construction crew members pushing protectors into the sea from the platform, workers and protectors tussling, and a man wearing hi vis apparently kicking someone in the water in the face.
On Monday, Kennedy Point Marina director Kitt Littlejohn released a statement in response to media reports about the incident, and shared a video of the actions leading up to the apparent kick.
**READ MORE:
* Waiheke marina: Occupiers set up floating camp, one apparently kicked in the face
* Waiheke protector injured after being 'rammed' by marina developer's boat
* Waiheke marina opponents in court charged with trespassing construction zone
* Kennedy Point marina: Waiheke community vows ‘it ain’t over yet’
**
The occupiers are part of Protect Pūtiki, a Ngāti Pāoa-led group protesting the planned 180-berth marina.
They are concerned the resident kororā, little blue penguins, will be harmed by the work, and say mana whenua were not properly consulted during the consenting process.
The group’s members call themselves protectors because they see their role as kaitiaki, or guardians of the area.
Spokeswoman Emily Māia Weiss (Ngāti Pāoa) earlier said: “We’re taking a firm stance and saying this is our ocean, this is everyone’s ocean, and it will not be taken away by the developers.
“It may be construction of their marina, but it’s the destruction of our bay.”
Previously, a woman was left with a sprained neck and wrist after the construction crew “rammed” her with their boat while she was protesting in the water.
In his statement, Littlejohn said the company does not condone “unprovoked violence from anyone” and said its priority is the “health and safety of its construction crew, members of the public and protestors”.
Last week's video had been portrayed as an isolated incident, “when in fact it is not an accurate representation of what took place on the day”, he said.
“What immediately preceded this widely viewed altercation was a disturbing incident in which one of the protestors repeatedly kicked a 55-year-old security guard in the head as he lay on the pontoon, having been shoved there after trying to prevent access onto the pontoon.
“He was subsequently pushed into the water by the protester and into a narrow cavity where he sustained a head injury and could have drowned.”
His statement continued: “To repeat, the company does not condone the use of unreasonable force or unprovoked violence. However, the company believes that it is important to put this single incident into its wider context.”
Speaking from the pontoon, Weiss said the “wider context” included violence towards the protector before she kicked the security guard.
“I would encourage people to go and view the full 12-minute clip and then make their own conclusions.”
Littlejohn said the company is committed to conducting an internal review of the events on July 7, and is assisting police with their inquiries.
He said the company has always known there are those who oppose the development, and accepts that they are entitled to express their views.
“But the fact is, it has been approved, a resource consent to build is in hand, and the company is in full compliance with the conditions of that consent,” he said.
Inspector Gary Davey from Auckland Central Police confirmed police are investigating the altercations.
“Police will be investigating all allegations relating to criminal offending and this will take some time to complete,” he said.