Sixteen-year-old Scott Hita uses some of his spare time to lay under moving trucks. He is a business student by day but feels so passionately about a cause he will act extremely, and some might say excessively, to get his view across.
Scott grew up in a state house in east Auckland and most of his family and friends are the same. When it was announced 156 of the state houses in the suburb of Glen Innes were going to be moved to make way for 260 new homes he decided to take matters into his own hands. He started attending protest meetings about two years ago at a community hall in the suburb. “I heard about them through people in the community – you can't not hear things in Glen Innes.”
Scott then joined protestors who had occupied a house his aunt used to live in. He and several others moved in to the house and erected banners and posters against Housing New Zealand's plan to pick up the house and relocate it. They were eventually moved on by police. The people on the front line of that occupation were from Socialist Aotearoa and the Tamaki Housing Collective.
The two groups have staged over 60 protests at the removal of the houses and other issues they claim are related to the plan to change Glen Innes. Scott has been at most. “We have done them on the street. In front of houses, at empty sections. A whole lot of different places. There have been protests about Len Brown coming back as Auckland Mayor because he signed off on the Glen Innes plan.”
And this issue isn't only important to Scott. Some Glen Innes residents who have been forced to move from their homes have also joined the front line. Housing New Zealand says the plan is about upgrading old, cold houses on large sections and replacing them with new, better quality homes. But Scott says many people have lived in the area their whole lives and have moved to make way for the new houses.
Scott Hita: "There's no way they are going to move a house with a person under it. And it's not always about stopping that truck or stopping that house. But it's to show how dedicated we are to the cause.” Photo: Supplied
He says it's an issue that resonates for many people. “I've only just moved out of a state house. I just don't think it's fair that someone who knows nothing about our community can come and say you have to leave because we want this for something else. I just think it's completely and totally unfair.”
It's that claim of injustice that has led Scott right to the edge. “Yes, I've laid down on the street under a few trucks. Once you see the truck getting ready to go it gets really emotional and you just kind of give yourself to the cause. There's no way they are going to move a house with a person under it. And it's not always about stopping that truck or stopping that house. But it's to show how dedicated we are to the cause.”
Scott laid down in front of trucks at least four times over the past two years. And admits it gets quite heated and emotional, but not hysterical. “I don't think I'd use the word hysteria. It's more of a moment thing. We never plan to get under a truck. It's definitely me getting caught in the moment.”
Scott has also had run-ins with the police while linking arms with other protestors at an intersection in Glen Innes. “We stood in front of a truck and an officer came up and shoved me quite hard. I got quite angry at that point. I didn't lash back but I was screaming my head off because it was scary.” And he claims to have been injured while protesting at the age of 14. "I was pushed to the ground by a police officer and dragged along the concrete. I've got a photo with the officer’s hands around my neck. That was scary - I went home that night with bruised ribs and ripped clothes.”
Scott doesn't think protest is the only way to be heard on an issue and he understands some people might think it's an extreme way to get his point across. But he feels people listen when he acts this way. “It's very visual. You can't deny something that's right in your face. I think it's a good way to get your point across but it's not the only way. There are other ways to do it.”
Scott's actions could be viewed as excessive but he doesn't agree. “For me it's not extreme. I think someone looking in on my life might think it's a bit excessive. You know it's not every day you go lie under a truck or go and stand on the street and yell at a truck that is taking a house away.”
“We've always had the sense that everyone is the same and we all deserve the same rights.”
Scott isn't from a family of protestors. He was raised by his Nana, who isn't always that keen on some of the things he gets up to. “She's not so supportive of me getting under trucks and putting myself on the line for this. But she is definitely supportive of the cause and me going out there, partly because she's not able to.”
His grandmother is someone who has influenced him a lot in his life, but he says he can't put the will to protest down to her influence. “I don't think the rebellious streak was from my nan but she does have a strong sense of self-worth and she knows who she is and what she stands for. She doesn’t go out (to protest) like I do but I think if she was young and able she would.”
He does however put the will to protest down to a bit of teenage rebellion. To begin with Scott saw it as standing up to a force, like the police. But now he thinks he is purely doing it for the people who are losing their homes and can't fight for themselves.
Scott has five siblings, not all of whom know that he is putting himself under trucks and in harm’s way while protesting. But he thinks most of them would be supportive. “All of the kids have been taught to have a real sense of community, and to be real connected to our roots and family.” He also thinks they have been brought up to be very accepting. “We've always had the sense that everyone is the same and we all deserve the same rights.”
As well as worrying about where Glen Innes residents who have lived in one community for so long, might get on in new suburb, Scott also worries about the future of the world. “I definitely think there is a lot of imbalance and just, yuck out there. Sometimes I get quite sad about this and want to just be there to help people.”
He also worries about things a bit more local and is very worried about how the country is being run at the moment. “I won't be glad to go out and buy my first house because it's so ridiculously expensive. I definitely think there needs to be more changes in policy to help lower and middle income people.”
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