An elderly Pākeha man has been issued with a trespass notice by the Police after unlawfully entering Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke’s home this morning.
This incident is another in a string of attacks on the candidate within the past week.
“It is clear the incident today was politically motivated as the perpetrator is a well-known advocate and campaigner for the National Party,” Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere said.
“There should be no doubt now in anyone’s mind that National and ACT’s race-baiting has empowered and emboldened a dangerous type of human being who is hell-bent on silencing Māori by targeting who they think is our most vulnerable.
“The police have performed poorly by their failure to take these matters seriously and by refusing to investigate all incidents thoroughly. They could have taken criminal proceedings further by laying charges for unlawful entry knowing that Hana and her home have been a target. Instead, they chose not to.”
“We are left with no choice but to elevate this matter to the commissioner.”
“If it was an Māori man, unlawfully entering the home of a young Pakeha woman’s home, it would be a different story.”
“We will not allow for any of our mokopuna to be treated as a target and we will not allow the police to dismiss us or treat us any differently because we are brown. We will always be relentless in our fight for justice for our people and especially for our mokopuna.”
Police respond
In response to the incident involving the elderly Pākeha man and the property, Waikato Police released the following statement:
“Police will be issuing a trespass notice to a Huntly resident, following a report received at around 10.20am yesterday, Wednesday 5 October. At that time a person entered the property and was subsequently asked to leave by the occupants.”
“While we acknowledge that the incidents in which people have come on to the property will have been unsettling, we do not believe these constitute a ‘home-invasion’.”
“Police have established that an election hoarding was stolen from the property on 25 September but note this is in the context of several other hoardings in the area, from a range of political parties, being damaged or defaced.”
“This incident has been incorrectly reported as a ‘ram raid’ – this is more correctly referred to as a theft.” they said.
Maipi-Clarke’s father has since clarified his daughter’s words on Radio Waatea as ‘like’ being ram-raided.
Police said with regards to allegation of a burglary and receipt of a threatening note.
“These reports have been investigated and Police have been unable to establish any criminality”, but added “enquiries are ongoing.”
On the claims by Te Pāti Māori that the incidents were racially motivated, police said they hadn’t found evidence of that.
“Police do not believe that the incidents have been racially motivated or coordinated.” they said.
Speaking to their role in the broader election campaign, Police said the following.
“The key focus for Police over the election period is to maintain law and order and to ensure the right to freedom of expression is protected.”
“That includes ensuring candidates and their teams feel safe and confident to carry out their work in the lead-up to the election.”
“As part of this work Police at a national level are regularly monitoring the campaigning of candidates and any consideration for a policing presence or action is made on a case-by-case basis.”
“All reports of threats are taken seriously and followed up with enforcement action if required.”
“Police encourage anyone in our community who has concerns for their safety to contact Police on 111 if there is immediate danger, or 105 to report an incident after the fact.”