On September 28, 2015, a small group, led by  John (Hoani Kahaki) Wanoa (then 66 yrs old) stormed the offices of the Auckland City Works Department, asserting what they described as the sovereign authority to claim the property. Members of the group wore shirts labelled “UN Federal Marshalls” confronting staff and ordering them to leave: “You gotta move…. assisted or unassisted, it’s up to you guys”.

When one employee refused to move, he was forcefully removed from his chair and dragged to the door. The men, including one using crutches, physically corralled eight office staff toward the exit, ignoring their objections. Once the office was cleared, the group then attempted to barricade the door to resist the entry of police who had arrived, all the while claiming their takeover was justified. Wanoa maintained that their actions were lawful [loreful], presenting himself as a ‘sheriff’ and claiming he had the respect of police as such, even as authorities confirmed an investigation was underway.

Video footage, later circulated by Wanoa,  shows the group arriving on site, planning their entry into the premises, and discussing how they would confiscate staff cards and keys.  In his post-event video, Wanoa claimed to have produced around 700 videos that justified their actions, revealing his long—standing grievance over the land dating back to 2008. He asserted the police did not arrest them because a “sheriff confiscation of the land” had been previously arranged with police. Presenting himself as “surrogate king”, Wanoa explained he enlisted the help of [faux] “UN Contracted Marshalls” to assist with the eviction. When pressed about the violence involved in removing the staff, Wanoa shifted the blame, claiming that employees  had brought it upon themselves by refusing to leave. Throughout, Wanoa made further assertions about his status, including claiming to be a private investigator and, notably, declaring himself the ”New World Order”

Within days of the incident,  several individuals, including Wanoa, John Monga, Simon Nesbitt, and Robin Tamihere were charged with trespass, forcing entry, and assault. Wanoa and Monga were arrested on 2 October 2015. They appeared in Auckland District Court the following day (Oct 3) and were remanded into custody until October 5. At their appearance the two men entered not guilty pleas and represented themselves, making a series of statements referencing “New World Order Law”, Barack Obama, the Pope, and King Willliam  [Wanoa’s own imposed title]. During the same hearing, Monga suggested the Judge contact the King of Hawaii who he claimed to represent as a diplomat, while Wanoa requested that his bail address be listed as ‘Westminster, England”, a request the judge decline in favour of Otahutu.

These highly performative orthodox sovereign exchanges, ranging from international figures, invented titles, conspiracy undertones, and dramatic assertions, heralded a pattern that would persist throughout subsequent legal proceedings, and particulary for Wanoa over  the coming years.

On 17 November 2015, Robin Tamihere repeatedly interrupted District Court Judge Russell Collins, refused to stand in the dock, disputed the court’s jurisdiction, and claimed he was being held under “duress and protest”, announcing he would refer his own case to the United Nations.  Judge Collins ordered that Tamihere be removed from the courtroom and taken to the cells. Upon his return the same day, Tamihere’s behaviour continued, resulting in 14 days imprisonment for contempt. Meanwhile from the public gallery, Monga swore at the Judge and was also sent to the cells.  

Hours later, Monga apologised to the judge as his behaviour was unfitting for a  ‘Field Marshall’ and “diplomat of the King of Hawaii”. Despite the apology, Judge Collins viewed  Monga’s conduct as disrespect and a challenge to the court’s authority, noting that “anarchy and chaos would reign” if such disruptions went unchecked. The judge imposed a 28-day prison sentence, the standard sentence for this behaviour, making it clear that the apology had lessened the sentence but did not negate the seriousness of contemptuous court conduct.

In contrast, Simon Nesbitt pleaded guilty to four charges relating to the office incident. In August 2016, he was given a one-year suspended sentence (essentially a good behaviour bond). The other men were meant to appear at a Judge only trial on the 29 August. However, police dropped charges on the 25 August, stating that due to the complexities and resource requirements for a three-day trial, consultations with the victims, and the recent conviction of Nesbitt, it was no longer in the public’s interest to proceed. Not missing the opportunity, and despite the video footage, Wanoa claimed there was no evidence, and it was all a conspiracy against him.

Years later, John Wanoa remains fixated on claiming the site. On 11 July 2022, he reposted the original “2015 eviction notice” online, now pairing it with a purported “new contract” involving the covid-era sovereignist “Homeguard Group Security Company. He also claimed to be updating this effort with a so-called “196-page writ of execution Property Control and Arrest Warrant.” Wanoa repeatedly broadcast these claims online, following a decades old sovereign pattern. His followers (under the now-defunct “Homeguard Global” group) also attempted delivery of sovereign-style documents and trespass notices to the property on at least two occasions, reflecting the persistent and performative nature of this approach.

So, as the latest chapter is evolving, Wanoa’s King William persona remains on the path. The flags are still pinned to the wall, the videos are produced, and the faux court orders or hearings continue to be staged. His contest between the crown, the government, and mainstream indigenous entities ( who he disapproves of) , shows no sign of fading, particularly as some covid-era sovereigns have enlisted in this inverted realm. Whether one sees it as theatre, obscure dissent, or as a campaign of self-determination, the story for ‘King William’ or any of his associated identities is a perpetually unfolding journey .

D. Carson, “2015 – ‘UN Marshall’ Office Takeover,” The Sovereign Files, Unmasking Extremism, 2025, https://www.unmaskingextremism.com/sovereign-files/wanoa-2015.