Recent events ....
The NFA campaign began with the well
known occupation of Charleston Forest in 1997. This
was a direct action intended to stop native logging
in one of New Zealand's last remaining lowland
rainforests. Since then the battle has spread over
the whole country and evolved in many ways. It has
increasingly involved politics and education. Huge
progress has been made in raising public awareness
and in making the logging an election issue. However,
the focus on Non-Violent Direct Action remains an
important part of the campaign. Ultimately we want to
stop the logging right now
and getting in the way is a good way to do it.
More and more people are coming to the Coast from all
over the country with a burning desire to take direct
action.

On 25 January a group of
about 40 people from Native Forest Action, Buller
Conservation Group and Forest & Bird erected a
blockade on the 4 mile road into Charleston Forest. A
gate was chained across the road and a tripod erected
in a symbolic blockade. The intention was essentially
to stop the destruction simply by putting ourselves
between the loggers and the forest. The police
arrived and asked us to move aside. When we refused
they sent for reinforcements and a paddy-wagon. Eight
people sitting in a line across the road in front of
the blockade were arrested and charged with
intimidation!! The maximum penalty for this charge is
3 months in jail. All eight appeared in a Wextport
court and were found not guilty!! Read press release?.

Five support people were
arrested at the airport and charged with trespass.
They were there to support Bridget and Steve and
ensure that they were not harmed. In spite of many
Timberlands contractors being allowed to hang around
and hurl abuse at the two activists, the five support
people were quickly arrested and removed from the
airport. They pleaded not guilty and were discharged
without conviction.
Steve was cut from the top
of the helicopter with bolt-cutters. He was charged
with "unlawfully getting upon a helicopter
without colour of right". He has pleaded
not guilty.
Bridget was eventually
removed from the helicopter by local firemen who used
a large petrol driven grinder to cut through the
steel pipe just inches from her fingers. She has been
charged with interfering with an aircraft.
Both these people are to
face trial by jury in Greymouth later this year.
Keep an eye on this
page for more updates!!