A Black Power gang member in Waitara near New Plymouth is facing council action, after building an entire house without the proper consents.
Kevin Moore is digging his heels in, arguing he doesn't need permission, because the home is on Māori land.
"I have every right to be here where I am - I am tangata whenua," he says.
He built this home on Māori land at East Beach, without applying for consent from the council.
"As far as I'm concerned, the council has no say on Maori land," Mr Moore adds. "All I can say to our people out there is, if you're on Māori land, just carry on and do what I'm doing."
The land is owned by a Maori Trust that also did not give permission and experts say the situation is highly unusual.
"I've worked in this business for 35 years and, I've never seen a whole house built without a building consent," says Steve McCarthy of Building Solutions.
The New Plymouth District Council refused to appear on camera, but will now try to inspect the building under a 'code of assessment', usually reserved for far smaller repairs and extensions.
If they can't come to a resolution or the land trustees want it gone, a demolition could be ordered.
Mr Moore is unafraid and vowing to continue.
"I'm just going to keep on doing what I'm doing here, keep building," he says.
Newshub.
