Alleged mere thief in marae hands

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The people of Parihaka will decide whether the woman who allegedly stole Te Whiti's mere from his tomb will face the court.

Iwi liaison officer Warren Wipatene said Hamilton police had spoken to the alleged offender and a female witness about the theft.

No decision had been made if the woman would face charges.

"We probably won't at this stage," Mr Wipatene said.

Police would be guided by what the Parihaka community decided, he said.

"We are ready to go with the prosecution, if the people of Parihaka feel that's the best way forward."

The Parihaka community was rocked after someone smashed a glass panel on Te Whiti's tomb and took the pounamu mere last month.

The mere was found in bushes on the pa grounds last week after a Hamilton woman told police where it was.

Police have spoken to the alleged offender, another middle-aged woman from Hamilton who has a family connection to Parihaka.

Te Whiti's oldest surviving relative, great-grandson Rangikotuku Rukuwai said the people of Parihaka would discuss the way to resolve the issue at the remembrance day for the prophet on September 18 and 19.

"Personally myself, I wouldn't [want to see her charged], but I will leave that up to the people," Mr Rukuwai said.

The Parihaka community would look at the reasons for the individual's actions and everybody would get to have their say on the matter, he said.

"A lot of them haven't expressed their thoughts at all."

Mr Rukuwai said increasing the tomb's security would also be discussed at the hui.

"That will be one of the main things to be done."

Mr Rukuwai said it was a great relief to have the mere back.

"We thought it would be bound to come back some day, but we didn't expect it back so soon."

- © Fairfax NZ News