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Extra fences and barricades were erected overnight around the construction site of a prison in Northland, a day after 37 protesters were arrested.
The Ngapuhi protesters, including four kaumatua, were arrested for blocking access to the site at Ngawha, near Kaikohe.
"We certainly recognise the rights of the people to protest but we're here to enforce an order and we've done that on behalf of Corrections," Inspector Viv Rickard said.
The arrested protesters appeared in the Kaikohe District Court and were granted bail, on condition that they stay away from the site.
The protesters met at a marae on Tuesday night to discuss their next move.
They say the 350 bed prison at Ngawha is being built on a sacred thermal site and are angry that work is proceeding despite pending appeals.
Local Members of Parliament have little sympathy for the protesters.
"I'm totally opposed to any group of people who wants to intimidate and wants to go over the boundaries in terms of abiding by the law," Labour's Dover Samuels said.
And National MP John Carter is also backing the arrests.
The Department of Corrections says it will take a hard line against any protesters on Wednesday because construction has been delayed too long.
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