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June 29, 2015
Tirikatene constituents say full force of the law shold be applied
Waatea Team
Posted On June 29, 2015
Te Tai Tonga MP Rino Tirikatene says his constituents in the far south want the full force of the law applied to Ngaphuhi leader Sonny Tau if he is found to have poached their pigeons.
The Ngapuhi Runanga chair was questioned at Invercargill Airport earlier this month after five plucked and gutted kereu were allegedly found in his possession.
Mr Tau has subsequently issued a statement that he made a mistake and was cooperating fully with any investigation.
Mr Tirikatene says there is an abundance of kai in Murihiku, but everyone in the hau kainga knows kereru is a protected taonga species.
Even though Sonny is a Iwi chair they're just saying hey there should be equal treatment of people before the law. Doesn't matter if he's an Iwi leader or whoever, if an offence is being committed then the full force of the law should be applied and that's what they're hoping to see down there" he says.
Rino Tirikatene says the alleged poaching was a massive breach of both the law and Maori custom.
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