Iwi supports protest resignation from Police College
7 November 2007 Chairperson of Ngati Kahungunu Iwi, Mr Ngahiwi Tomoana, has supported the resignation of lawyer Moana Jackson from his position as a Patron at the Royal New Zealand Police College. Mr Jackson, who is Ngati Kahungunu, has resigned his position in protest at the abuse of the human rights of innocent bystanders during the police operation in Tuhoe on October 15th and succeeding days. Mr Tomoana said "the iwi had been pleased at Mr Jackson’s appointment as a Patron but now supported his decision to resign. Ngati Kahungunu is well aware of the trauma suffered by the innocent bystanders in Tuhoe and has expressed its concerns directly to the Commissioner of Police, Mr Howard Broad. The iwi therefore supports Mr Jackson’s statement that the conduct of Operation Eight was so abusive of basic human rights and so harmful to ordinary people that it is now untenable for him to continue as a Patron at the Royal New Zealand Police College". Mr Tomoana expressed the hope that the police would be more aware of the damage caused by Operation Eight because of Mr Jackson’s resignation, and emphasised the need for the Police to desist from practices that damage the mana and soul of Maori communities. "Mr Jackson has taken a brave and principled stand at this time of enormous upheaval", Mr Tomoana concluded.
Ngahiwi Tomoana
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