There's a new frontline in the occupation of Ihumātao.
Occupiers have moved about 50m over the weekend. Photo: RNZ / Jordan Bond
Occupiers have moved down Ihumātao Quarry Road about 50m over the weekend, past the previous police-guarded frontline and the police headquarters onsite.
A handful of tents have been set up in a previously-blocked field, breaching a line that a dozen or so officers were holding earlier last week. There are now only two officers at that line.
The forward movement came on Sunday.
A group intended to karakia up the maunga or mountain, and were under the impression they would be allowed past police to get there via the closed road.
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Police officers helping set up a marquee for occupiers to sit under at the frontline. Photo: RNZ / Jordan Bond
One occupier, Rosemarie Maier, said when the time came, officers blocked the road by standing shoulder to shoulder. There was a standoff, during which there was karakia and tears.
"And the police wouldn't back down. Pania [Newton, of Save Our Unique Landscape] kept saying 'you promised us that you would let us go through and do karakia up the maunga'. And they refused to let us through, so we just broke through. We just pushed our way through."
Ms Maier said it didn't get physical, and people later sat down in front of a fence further up Ihumātao Quarry Road.
Previously the front line had been at the top of the road, about 50 metres away. However, the police said there was never an agreement for people to walk up the maunga.
"We continue to have ongoing dialogue with protest organisers to discuss any issues and ensure protest action remains peaceful," superintendent Jill Rogers said.
The new frontline in the background, past the police's site headquarters. Photo: RNZ / Jordan Bond
One woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, moved her tent past the police line on Sunday and slept last night in a mostly empty field closer to the disputed land.
"All of us have been saying we're trying to peacefully take our land back, so the best way is slowly, peacefully and keep moving as little as we can every day," she said.
"In a way it's just gaining a bit more land to put our tents on, but it doesn't solve the problem. But it shows them we're not going to stand down, and that we're here until the end. We've moved forward, so let's move forward - peacefully.
"It's quite good that we did that without any arrests yesterday."
Last night was believed to be one of the coldest nights in the occupation. Photo: RNZ / Jordan Bond
There are a few running repairs to some tents which were damaged by strong winds and rain last night.
Tents and some clothes were scattered on the field, abandoned and sopping with water. Bails of hay were spread out around the entrance to the field which is now thick with mud.
Dozens of tents remain, with those still there hunkering down and expecting to be for some time yet.
"We're bracing for the storm, that's for sure," one man said, wielding a hammer and nailing in some wooden barricades to his makeshift home.
"There was a bit of nip in the air last night. Definitely one of the coldest nights in the occupation. After last night's big howling winds, we're lucky to see quite a few tents still alive in here.
"We've got 10 days of rubbish weather coming ... we're in for the long haul," he laughed.
