Police Raid Park Occupied By Maoris Awaiting Court Ruling

Riot police raided a Maori-occupied park on Wednesday, seizing marijuana, a weapon and goods they say were stolen from the Red Cross. Ten people were arrested.

The raid came on the eve of a High Court hearing to determine ownership of Moutoa Gardens in Wanganui, a town 80 miles north of Wellington. Maoris have occupied the park since Feb. 28, claiming the English stole the land from their ancestors.

Maori spokeswoman Tariana Turia said residents were angered by the raid.

“It was a very warlike experience for us,” she said. She said police in riot gear entered the park with batons drawn, “positioned to let anybody have it if they attempted to move past them.”

About 60 Maoris and 12 members of a Wellingtonbased street gang were in the park when some 60 police carried out the early morning raid.

Police last month began investigating the theft of blankets, clothing, food and two generators worth about $13,500 from Wellington’s Red Cross offices.