Re-occupation of pier not ruled out | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

A Maori group that occupied the New Brighton Pier to protest against the Government's foreshore and seabed legislation at the weekend has no plans to repeat the action - yet.

Christchurch-based group Te Mangoroa spokesman Malcolm Mulholland said the group had not discussed carrying out another occupation.

"But that's not to say we won't go down there again," he said. "We'll just see what happens."

The group, which had about 50 members, began an occupation of the pier early on Friday morning and left on Sunday as wind and rain lashed the city.

However, Mulholland said the unseasonable weather had not forced the group from the site.

"The group felt we had achieved the objectives we had set out when we started."

Those objectives included raising awareness of the foreshore and seabed legislation, and issuing a challenge to the rest of the country to arrange similar protests.

The group also wanted Te Tai Tonga MP Mahara Okeroa to resign because of his support for the legislation.

Mulholland said the occupation had been a huge success with about 400 people visiting over the weekend. He said they also handed out over 1000 pamphlets.

"I think we got our message across and we got support from both Maori and Pakeha ? and those Pakeha who came down to find out more about the issue went away feeling they understood our position."

Mulholland said the atmosphere during the occupation had been "nice" with people bringing food to the group and some pitching their tents on the beach to set up camp with Te Mangoroa members.