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“Te Urewera Egg-On-Face Day” creeps steadily nearer

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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« on: May 16, 2011, 01:34:18 pm »


Matt McCarten: Urewera trial delay to hide egg on faces

HERALD on SUNDAY | 5:30AM - Sunday, May 15, 2011

The police in action in the Ureweras during the so-called “terrorist raids”. — Photo: NZ Herald.
The police in action in the Ureweras during the so-called “terrorist raids”.
 — Photo: The New Zealand Herald.


REMEMBER those domestic terrorists who were discovered right under our noses in the Ureweras nearly four years ago?

Well, the court case against them, which was to start on the 30th of this month, is falling apart. On Thursday the courts announced the case had been delayed another year.

Insiders tell me the priority for the anti-terrorism unit and the police hierarchy is to continue to drag the whole matter out as long as they can.

There is a strong possibility that if the Supreme Court suppresses or dismisses some of the police evidence (which is likely) the prosecutors can then claim on that basis they can't proceed with the case.

That will give them an excuse to apply to have everything permanently suppressed. That way they get all the senior players who started this nonsense off the hook.

But we shouldn't forget what they did. Former prime minister Helen Clark, the police commissioner Howard Broad and the entire anti-terrorism unit hyped themselves into believing a secret cell was about to launch a terror campaign against the citizens of this country.

They signed off sending 300 police dressed up in SWAT uniforms to raid houses and detain innocent citizens, search school buses and cordon off a whole town.

The "terrorists" were held mostly in solitary confinement for a month.

As I've argued previously, the local cops should have been asked to pop up and see the so-called terrorist leader, Tame Iti, take his guns off him and serve him a summons to appear in court.

Then they should have sent uniformed cops to visit all the suspects at home and give them formal warnings for running around the bush with weapons.

It would have saved us a fortune and prevented egg hardening on the faces of all the players involved.

Instead we found that within weeks of the arrests the wheels started coming off the Keystone Cops wagon.

The solicitor-general read the police evidence and threw the whole terror nonsense out. The police were left with charging the suspects with breaches of gun laws.

Clark stood by her cops, of course, as she was the person who authorised the raids. Selective snippets from the secret charges were leaked to the media, clearly by insiders, to keep the hysteria levels up.

But at the same time it seems our spooks were telling the United States Embassy that the most they could get on the arrestees were fines but no jail time. The maximum fine for the charges against the arrestees is $4000. All the millions of hours in police and court time will result, at best, with some of the arrestees being fined a couple of grand at most. What a joke.

This is so different to what our elites wanted.

At the time of the raids they were wetting themselves with excitement about becoming part of the international brotherhood fighting terrorism. Instead, they are a laughing stock.

The US ambassador in Wellington, when cabling his superiors in Washington, clearly had a better grasp of the fiasco than any of the media have reported. You can see his whole cable HERE.

Even this column gets a mention by the good ambassador. He quotes my previous statement that I "never thought that there was a need for the Terrorism Suppression Act and believe that it was motivated by our establishment's need to be seen by our international allies to be doing our bit for George Bush's war on terror".

My opinion hasn't changed. Normal criminal laws would have sufficed.

However, the ambassador might like to correct his files as he describes me as a former left-wing Member of Parliament.

That's a low blow. I'm a left-winger, of course, but have never been guilty of being a parliamentarian.

Even a terrorist appeaser like me has some standards.


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10725697



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« Reply #1 on: May 16, 2011, 01:41:03 pm »


Oh well....at least the current Commissioner of Police can say he wasn't a member of the NZ Police (or even in the country) when these so-called “terror-raids” occured. What you'd call the perfect alibi, eh?  Grin


Here are some earlier news stories....




Urewera raids evidence suppressed

NZPA | 12:07PM - Tuesday, May 03, 2011

The police counter-terrorism operation has been generating protest action for the past four years. — Photo: Mark Mitchell.
The police counter-terrorism operation has been generating protest
action for the past four years. — Photo: Mark Mitchell.


THE SUPREME COURT has suppressed any reporting of the arguments it is hearing today and tomorrow over the 12 accused in the case that involved police raids on camps in the Ureweras, in the eastern Bay of Plenty four years ago.

The latest legal action comes after the Court of Appeal recently upheld a High Court ruling denying most of the accused a jury trial.

They are due to be tried before a judge alone at Auckland later this month and this week's hearing is dealing with pre-trial arguments.

The trial, due to begin on May 30, is expected to last up to three months.

Fifteen people are charged with firearms offences, and some of them are also charged with taking part in an organised criminal group.

Three others are separately charged with firearms charges, with a trial date yet to be set.

The case relates to camps on Tuhoe land near Ruatoki in 2006 and 2007, culminating in a series of raids in October 2007.


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10723117



Appeal granted for Urewera group

NZPA | 5:35PM - Friday, May 06, 2011

Tuhoe activist Tama Iti is one of three accused who have requested Te reo interpreters for trial. — Photo: Ben Fraser.
Tuhoe activist Tama Iti is one of three accused who have requested
Te reo interpreters for trial. — Photo: Ben Fraser.


THE 15 PEOPLE of 15 people arrested after police raids in 2007 at alleged training camps in the Urewera Ranges appears unlikely to go ahead at the end of this month.

The trial which was set down to start in the High Court at Auckland on May 30 may be delayed until next year, crown lawyers say.

The Supreme Court last week granted leave to the accused to appeal earlier High Court and Court of Appeal rulings that their case be heard by a judge alone rather than a judge and jury and over the admissibility of some evidence.

But, yesterday the Supreme Court issued a minute which said it was not able to decide on the admissibility of evidence before the trial's start date, The Dominion Post reported.

"There's very little prospect of a trial proceeding on May 30 as far as I can see," prosecutor Ross Burns told the newspaper.

"Unless something extraordinary is done then, in the ordinary course of events, it's unlikely that the trial would [be held] before the end of the year."

The trial was estimated to take three months.

The accused face firearms charges and five of them face charges of participating in an organised criminal group.


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10723883



Urewera 15 trial unlikely to start this month — report

NZPA | 9:47AM - Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Tuhoe activist Tama Iti. — Photo: Ben Fraser.
Tama Iti. — Photo: Ben Fraser.

THE TRIAL of 15 people arrested after police raids in 2007 at alleged training camps in the Urewera Ranges appears unlikely to go ahead at the end of this month.

The trial which was set down to start in the High Court at Auckland on May 30 may be delayed until next year, crown lawyers say.

The Supreme Court last week granted leave to the accused to appeal earlier High Court and Court of Appeal rulings that their case be heard by a judge alone rather than a judge and jury and over the admissibility of some evidence.

But, yesterday the Supreme Court issued a minute which said it was not able to decide on the admissibility of evidence before the trial's start date, The Dominion Post reported.

"There's very little prospect of a trial proceeding on May 30 as far as I can see," prosecutor Ross Burns told the newspaper.

"Unless something extraordinary is done then, in the ordinary course of events, it's unlikely that the trial would [be held] before the end of the year."

The trial was estimated to take three months.

The accused face firearms charges and five of them face charges of participating in an organised criminal group.


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10724588
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« Reply #2 on: May 16, 2011, 06:18:05 pm »

Terrorists? Yeah right. The real terrorists in this country are the ones that keep hiking up prices of everyday items so they are out of reach of families with young children.
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Newtown-Fella
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« Reply #3 on: May 16, 2011, 07:32:12 pm »

another Labour f**kup ....
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« Reply #4 on: May 16, 2011, 08:22:43 pm »

another Labour f**kup ....


Ah yes....that would be the Labour fuck-up where Jonkey received a full briefing from Helen Clark BEFORE the raids even took place (he admitted as much to a reporter after the raids) and stated that he agreed with the raids 100%!

Face facts....your dumb Nats mates puffed out their “get-tough-on-crime” “go-warmongering-against-nonexistant-terrorism” chests and egged-on both the then Labour Government and the NZ Police.

Faaaaaark.....I guess that must mean the Nats (and YOU Nats supporters) also have egg all over your faces, eh?   
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« Reply #5 on: May 16, 2011, 09:53:12 pm »

another Labour f**kup ....


Ah yes....that would be the Labour fuck-up where Jonkey received a full briefing from Helen Clark BEFORE the raids even took place (he admitted as much to a reporter after the raids) and stated that he agreed with the raids 100%!

Face facts....your dumb Nats mates puffed out their “get-tough-on-crime” “go-warmongering-against-nonexistant-terrorism” chests and egged-on both the then Labour Government and the NZ Police.

Faaaaaark.....I guess that must mean the Nats (and YOU Nats supporters) also have egg all over your faces, eh?   

you forgot your beloved Greens were in bed with Helen and her crew !!

bunch of has-beens they are
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« Reply #6 on: May 16, 2011, 10:49:53 pm »

This whole thing is a farce and costing the country some extreme $$.

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« Reply #7 on: May 25, 2011, 03:48:26 pm »


“Urewera 15” suspects may face trial in February

The Dominion Post | 1:33PM - Wednesday, 25 May 2011

Tame Iti

THE "Urewera 15" suspects will probably face trial in February — four and a-half years after being charged.

The 15, which includes activists Tame Iti and Valerie Morse, were arrested after police surveillance of camps in the Urewera Ranges in 2007 led to firearms charges.

The Solicitor-General refused to allow Police to lay charges under the Terrorism Suppression Act.


Tame Iti

In a High Court call-over this morning, Justice Rodney Hansen said a Supreme Court appeal that had delayed the start of the case was now set to be heard on August 23.

The defendants are appealing the decision for the trial to be heard by a judge alone.

It was not practicable to have the trial this year so a date was being sought "in the first quarter of next year", probably in February, the judge said.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5054066/Urewera-15-suspects-may-face-trial-in-February
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« Reply #8 on: May 26, 2011, 09:38:32 pm »

you forgot your beloved Greens were in bed with Helen and her crew !!

bunch of has-beens they are


Actually, the truth is they weren't in bed with anyone.

The GREENs have never signed a coalition agreement with any other political party.

They had a confidence & supply support agreement with the 5th Labour government and that was it.

The GREENs also have a confidence & supply support agreement with the current 5th National government.

All of which shows that the GREENs are into supporting stable government in NZ without actually needing to get into bed with anyone.
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« Reply #9 on: May 26, 2011, 09:39:24 pm »


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« Reply #10 on: September 06, 2011, 05:56:32 pm »


Gun charges against Urewera accused dropped

By IAN STEWARD and TRACY WATKINS - Stuff.co.nz | 2:03PM - Tuesday, 06 September 2011

POLICE RESPONSE: Armed police man a roadblock in Ruatoki Valley during the 2007 “terror” raids. — Photo: Whakatane Beacon.
POLICE RESPONSE: Armed police man a roadblock in Ruatoki Valley during the 2007 “terror” raids.
 — Photo: Whakatane Beacon.


THE CROWN has dropped charges against 11 of the Urewera 15 who were charged following the 2007 "terror raids".

The Crown Solicitor has issued a statement saying only four of the group — Tame Iti, Emily Bailey, Te Rangikaiwhiria Kemara and Urs Signer — will face trial for participation in a criminal group and firearms charges.

Prime Minister John Key said he could not comment as it was an operational matter and there were still four people facing charges.

"I don't want to corrupt that process."

He understood the solicitor general would be commenting on the situation.

"The dropping of all charges against 13 accused in the Police Operation 8 case is an enormous victory for the defendants, their whanau and supporters across the country and across the world," said October 15th Solidarity in a statement.

The group began as 17 but has dwindled to four in the four years since the nation-wide arrests.

Police originally sought prosecution under Terrorism Suppression laws but this was rejected by the Solicitor General.

The other 11, who will be discharged in a court hearing soon, only faced firearms charges.

Crown Solicitor Simon Moore said the effect of a recent Supreme Court ruling on the case — which is suppressed — was that there was no longer enough evidence to continue against some and the others would have to be tried separately after the main trial.

That would be four-and-a-half years after they were charged, and the main trial would have to be subject to wide-ranging suppressions, and so was not practical or in the public interest.

Those who have had charges dropped since the original arrests now include: Ira Bailey, Marama Mayrick, Rawiri Iti, Omar Hamed, Raunatiri Hunt, Jamie Lockett, Watene McClutchie, Moana Winitana, Tekaumarua Wharepouri, Maraki Teepa, Phillip Purewa, Trudi Paraha, Valerie Morse.

Two of those had already been separated from the main trial but prosecutor Ross Burns said the effect would be the same for them.

Tuhoe Lambert was also charged but has died while waiting for the trial.

The trial for the four remaining accused is set down for February 13, 2012, in the High Court at Auckland.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5572235/Gun-charges-against-Urewera-accused-dropped
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« Reply #11 on: September 06, 2011, 08:05:25 pm »

So the guilty go free thanks in the main to filibustering lawyers.

A Pyrrhic victory, these people wont be able to fart out loud without activating some sort of wankeralertometer.

Having read the transcripts of the phone monitoring [a link to which was posted on here I believe], it was obvious that these people were up to something which was not in New Zealand's best interests.

I guess they'll keep.
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« Reply #12 on: September 06, 2011, 08:20:30 pm »

the ones with egg on their faces is Labour .....

it was under their watch in 2007 that the arrests were made .....

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« Reply #13 on: September 06, 2011, 09:46:20 pm »

So the guilty go free thanks in the main to filibustering lawyers.


So....if they are guilty, then they must have been convicted of what they are guilty of.

Tell us all about this secret conviction!

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« Reply #14 on: September 07, 2011, 07:43:19 am »

There are a lot of unconvicted guilty bastards out there. E.g. the authorities at Hutt Valley High who continued to allow serious assaults to occur without taking any action because "blood hadn't been spilled".

Interesting that those celebrating are quite clearly some of New Zealands leading fuckwits: Minto, Morse, etc. The lockewit and Squeaky Norman should weigh in sometime today.

There was some evidence that plans were being made to explode bombs in public places - coming to a supermarket near you!

If people can live with that and make excuses for the people who were planning it, well...... I guess they march to a different drum.
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« Reply #15 on: September 07, 2011, 10:42:25 am »

So the guilty go free thanks in the main to filibustering lawyers.


So....if they are guilty, then they must have been convicted of what they are guilty of.

Tell us all about this secret conviction!




So, a burglar breaks into your home and steals your Rembrants, Jade objects and fine silver pieces.
You know who committed the offence and he is arrested, but due to govenment intervention, [solicitor general] the police are unable to take him to court on those charges.

You are telling us that no-one is guilty of an offence? 
OK.  If you say so - But your treasures are still missing.
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« Reply #16 on: September 07, 2011, 01:53:51 pm »

There are a lot of unconvicted guilty bastards out there. E.g. the authorities at Hutt Valley High who continued to allow serious assaults to occur without taking any action because "blood hadn't been spilled".


Ah....so we can do away with courts altogether and simply pronounce people guilty and sentence them because someone accuses them?

Think of the money we'd save, eh?

Beginning with your wages....no need for any courts, so no need for court security officers!

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« Reply #17 on: September 07, 2011, 04:47:19 pm »

A new news release is available for you to view on the Police website:

Title: No apology for Operation Eight prosecutions

The Police Commissioner, Peter Marshall, stands by decisions to prosecute individuals relating to Operation Eight.

Mr Marshall said Operation Eight did have a number of unintended consequences on the relationship between Tuhoe and Police.

"The community impact issues should not be confused with the validity of the prosecution process.  The wider issues will take time to heal.  On the other hand, the prosecutions relating to Operation Eight were undertaken in good faith and I have full confidence in the officers who undertook the investigation and of Crown Counsel who have led the prosecutions.

"Until September 1 the prosecution cases had withstood the full scrutiny of the High Court and the Court of Appeal.  On September 2 the Supreme Court made a judgement concerning the admissibility of evidence which over-rode the decisions of both the High Court and the Court of Appeal.  This necessitated the withdrawal of charges against many of the accused.  It leaves serious charges remaining against four individuals.

"Naturally, Police accepts the decision of the Supreme Court and concurs with  the Crown's decision to take immediate steps to withdraw many of the remaining charges.

"The cases have been well stewarded from the outset and Police will make no apologies in that regard.

"It is wrong to suggest that the original action to disrupt the activities of the individuals in 2007 was unlawful.  Police action was undertaken with court issued warrants.

"Police hold firm to the view that evidence against the four individuals facing serous criminal charges will be placed before the court early next year and the public will then be in a much better position to assess the probity of Police actions relating to the investigation and criminal cases against the accused," said Mr Marshall.

The Commissioner said he noted that his predecessor, Howard Broad, had acknowledged that some of the Police's actions in October 2007 had an unfortunate impact on a number of people in the Ruatoki Valley who were innocently caught up in the actions that day.    Those matters, however, do not undermine the very sound reasons for Police acting to execute warrants at that time.

"As the Solicitor General said in relation to the investigation, Police had good cause to believe the accused in Operation 8 had engaged in serious criminal behaviour.

"In his media statement on 8 November 2007, the Solicitor General said that he wished to stress that Police had successfully brought to an end what were very disturbing activities.  In his words:  'That the Police did so without a single shot being fired, injury or loss or life, is a tremendous reflection on the professionalism and integrity of the New Zealand Police.'

"That statement remains true to this day and Police, therefore, will not be making any apology for our ongoing prosecutions," said Mr Marshall.

ENDS
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« Reply #18 on: September 08, 2011, 07:37:39 am »


If I was one of the people who have just had charges dropped at them, then I'd hire Tony Ellis as a lawyer.

He has a huge success rate in sueing Corrections, the Police, and other government organisations on behalf of his clients.

That'd make Judith Collins froth at the mouth even more!  Grin
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« Reply #19 on: September 08, 2011, 07:38:32 am »


Just 4 ‘terror raid’ accused remain

Urewera terror raid case a ‘house of cards’

By IAN STEWARD - The Dominion Post | 5:00AM - Wednesday, 07 September 2011

STILL FIGHTING: Tame Iti, left, and Valerie Morse, seen here at an exhibition opening. Iti is still facing charges but the charges against Morse have been dropped. — Photo: WARWICK SMITH.
STILL FIGHTING: Tame Iti, left, and Valerie Morse, seen here at an exhibition opening. Iti is still
facing charges but the charges against Morse have been dropped. — Photo: WARWICK SMITH.


THE Urewera "terror raids" case has been labelled a "house of cards" following the Crown's decision to withdraw charges against 11 of the remaining 15 defendants.

Crown Solicitor Simon Moore said yesterday only four of the original group — Tame Iti, Emily Bailey, Te Rangikaiwhiria Kemara and Urs Signer — would face trial in February 2012.

They have been charged with participation in a criminal group and firearms charges.

The other 11 remaining defendants faced only firearms charges but Mr Moore said a recent appeal decision by the Supreme Court meant there was no longer enough evidence to continue against some and the others would have to be tried separately after the main trial.

That would not be "in the public interest" so all 11 would have their charges dropped.

Auckland University law professor Bill Hodge said if the prosecutions had collapsed following the revocation of a single line of evidence it indicated the case was "not overwhelming".

"If you pull out one card and the whole house comes down, it starts to look like, well, a house of cards."

Mr Hodge said if it took "dubious evidence" there was probably not a strong factual case.

"It must have been a combination of eavesdropping and circumstantial evidence. It suggests it wasn't a robust case with lots of ‘Plan B’ evidence."

The group began as the Urewera 17 after nationwide arrests in 2007 following a year of police surveillance of Maori and environmental activists, much of it in camps in the Urewera ranges.

Police originally sought prosecution under terrorism suppression laws but that was rejected by the solicitor-general.

The case has laboured through the courts for four years facing numerous appeals over separation of defendants, location of the trial, whether it would be heard by a judge-alone or a jury, and admissibility of evidence.

One of the defendants, Tuhoe Lambert, has died while waiting for the trial.

The main group of accused had wanted, but was refused, a jury trial. They were appealing against the decision that their case would be heard by a judge sitting alone.

The reduced size of the trial for the remaining four accused means the Crown is now expected to agree to a jury deciding the charges.

The latest Supreme Court decision is suppressed but Mr Moore said it would mean the firearms charges would have to be tried after the case against Iti, Bailey, Kemara and Signer, which itself would have to be covered by wide-ranging suppression orders.

There is no statute of limitations on Crimes Act offences but the delay of four-and-a-half years since they were charged meant pursuing the prosecutions was "not in the public interest", Mr Moore said.

One of the defendants who has now been discharged, Wellington activist Valerie Morse, said the case was "a disaster from start to finish" and it was clear that police "don't have any evidence".

The remaining four were on "trumped up charges" that were "a desperate attempt by the Crown to salvage their reputation and justify this whole fiasco".

Ms Morse said that from reading 30,000 pages of police disclosure it was clear the police had "a very distorted picture of the aspirations of Maori for sovereignty". Tino rangatiratanga (self-rule) was presented "as if that was a criminal idea".

The Crown's decision was applauded by Global Peace and Justice Auckland (GPJA), which is led by veteran protester John Minto, and the National Distribution Union.

NDU general secretary Robert Reid said: "Common sense has finally prevailed."

"There was never anything in this case, and the Crown is lucky it has an excuse for getting out of the farce that the police created," he said.

GPJA said the Crown had tried to give "face-saving reasons" for dropping the charges "but they don't provide even a fig leaf to cover this most embarrassing of police blunders which amounted to a dedicated assault on civil liberties and the right to dissent".

Those who have had charges dropped since the original arrests now include: Ira Bailey, Marama Mayrick, Rawiri Iti, Omar Hamed, Raunatiri Hunt, Jamie Lockett, Watene McClutchie, Tekaumarua Wharepouri, Moana Winitana, Maraki Teepa, Phillip Purewa, Trudi Paraha and Valerie Morse.

Two of those had already been separated from the main trial but prosecutor Ross Burns said the effect would be the same for them.

The trial for the four remaining accused is set down for February 13, 2012 in the High Court at Auckland.

Prime Minister John Key said he could not comment as it was an operational matter and there were still four people facing charges. "I don't want to corrupt that process."

Police Association president Greg O'Connor said he could not comment for the same reasons. "It's certainly an interesting decision and we can only speculate why."

______________________________________

THE STORY SO FAR

2006: Police start monitoring alleged guerrilla-style training camps deep in the Urewera Range, including bugging conversations, tapping cellphone calls and texts, and video surveillance.

October 15, 2007: Three hundred police officers raid homes in several towns and cities. Seventeen arrests are made in Wellington, Palmerston North, Hamilton, Auckland and eastern Bay of Plenty. Police commissioner Howard Broad said the raids were carried out to minimise risk to lives and property. Prime Minister Helen Clark refuses to comment on reports of specific threats against her or any other politician.

Sixteen people arrested in the raids face charges under the Firearms Act. Twelve, including Tuhoe activist Tame Iti, are referred to the solicitor-general's office for possible prosecution under the Terrorism Suppression Act, passed in 2002.

November 2007: Solicitor-General David Collins brands the terrorism act incoherent and unworkable and says it cannot be applied to those arrested in the raids.

Chanting "Howard is a racist coward", hundreds of angry Tuhoe people march through Wellington performing haka outside Te Puni Kokiri, Parliament and police national headquarters.

April 2008: The solicitor-general confirms he is prosecuting The Dominion Post's owner and editor for publishing leaked conversations secretly recorded by police during their investigations. The charges are later dismissed by two High Court judges.

December 2010: Chief High Court Justice Helen Winkelmann decides the defendants will be tried by a judge alone rather than a jury. The trial, expected to last three months, is due to start in Auckland on May 31, 2011. The Court of Appeal later upholds the decision.

April 2011: A documentary on the raids premieres in Wellington as part of the World Cinema Showcase 2011. Operation 8: Deep in the Forest features footage of the raids and interviews several of the accused.

May 2011: The Supreme Court allows the group to argue for a trial by jury. The trial is delayed. It is due to start in August but is put off again until February 2012.

July 2011: One of the defendants, Tuhoe Lambert, 63, a Vietnam veteran, dies in Auckland Hospital. He had multiple health problems.

Yesterday: Firearms charges against 11 of the remaining 15 are dropped. Tame Iti, Emily Bailey, Te Rangikaiwhiria Kemara and Urs Signer are to face trial in February, accused of participation in a criminal group and firearms charges.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5576095/Just-4-terror-raid-accused-remain



An apology to Tuhoe was suggested

By DANYA LEVY - The Dominion Post | 11:08AM - Wednesday, 07 September 2011

HIKOI: Protesters march in 2007 against the charges laid over the Tuhoe terror raids. — KEVIN STENT/Sunday Star Times.
HIKOI: Protesters march in 2007 against the charges laid over the Tuhoe terror raids.
 — KEVIN STENT/Sunday Star Times.


WHEN outgoing Police Commissioner Howard Broad gave his final press conference last year, he said Tuhoe could get a formal apology for the so called "terror raids" which occurred under his command.

"I will say that I will stand and explain to Tuhoe what the police did. If it comes to an apology," he told media.

His comments suggested a formal apology of some kind would be made.

The withdrawal of charges against 11 of the Urewera 15 has now rekindled calls for police to say sorry to Tuhoe.

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples has revealed he was in negotiations with police after the raids over an apology and compensation for Tuhoe. He says those negotiations were put on hold while the court case was pending.

Sharples says Tuhoe are a peaceful people which have been stigmatised as terrorists following the "over the top" early morning raids which children and "people in their nighties" were caught up in.

Police have been willing to consider an apology and compensation for Tuhoe.

The issue of an apology for Tuhoe is now being blurred with calls for an apology for the 11 who are to have their firearms charges dropped.

Prime Minister John Key and Police Minister Judith Collins have been quick to say there would be no apology for the 11. Key says police were acting on a perceived risk, Collins says the dropping of charges does not prove police got it wrong.

That argument could also be applied to calls for an apology for Tuhoe.

With a new Government, a new Police Minister and a new commission now in place since the October 2007 raids, it would be easy for the Government or the police to issue an apology, saying the raids happened under the watch of others.

But with an election less than three months away, a National-led government is unlikely to want to be seen pandering to so called Maori radicals.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/5579245/An-apology-to-Tuhoe-was-suggested



No apology over Urewera raids: Collins

The Dominion Post | 2:41PM - Wednesday, 07 September 2011

PITA SHARPLES: Says it was “wrong” to use one Act to investigate and arrest people on and another Act to lay charges. — Photo: PETER MEECHAM.
PITA SHARPLES: Says it was “wrong” to use one Act to
investigate and arrest people on and another Act to
lay charges. — Photo: PETER MEECHAM.


POLICE are standing by their decision to prosecute those arrested following the Urewera "terror raids".

Police Commissioner Peter Marshall today acknowledged the raids, known by police as Operation Eight, had a number of unintended consequences on the relationship between Tuhoe and police.

However, he said the impact on the community should not be confused with the validity of the prosecution process.

"The prosecutions relating to Operation Eight were undertaken in good faith and I have full confidence in the officers who undertook the investigation and of Crown Counsel who have led the prosecutions."

The case had withstood the scrutiny of the High Court and Court of Appeal until the Supreme Court last week ruled on the admissibility of evidence which overruled earlier court decisions, he said.

There has been renewed calls for an apology, as well as calls for compensation, for Tuhoe after the Crown yesterday announced it would withdraw charges against 11 of the 15 remaining defendants.

The remaining four — Tame Iti, Emily Bailey, Te Rangikaiwhiria Kemara and Urs Signer — will face trial next February on charges of participating in a criminal group and possessing firearms.

However, Marshall said the cases were "well stewarded" from the outset and police would make no apologies in that regard.

The Green Party and the Maori Party are both calling for investigations into the police handling of the raids.

The Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples said his party had the backing of Tuhoe to push for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the issue but that would required the support of the Government.

This morning Sharples said he had been in negotiations with police following the raids in October 2007 over an apology and compensation to Tuhoe, but said those talks were put on hold while defendants were awaiting trial.

Last year outgoing Police Commissioner Howard Broad said Tuhoe could get a formal apology for the raids that happened under his command.

"I will say that I will stand and explain to Tuhoe what the police did. If it comes to an apology."


NO APOLOGY: Police Minister Judith Collins.
NO APOLOGY: Police Minister Judith Collins.

Police Minister Judith Collins said neither she or police would not be apologising to Tuhoe over the raids. If Broad and then police minister Annette King wanted to apologise then "so be it".

"But I have no intention of apologising."

King said she would not be apologising for the raids either, saying they were not her decision.

"I had no say over the raids nor did I expect to because no minister of police directs the police on who they should investigate, who they should prosecute and what actions they should take."

The role of police did not stop and start when a new commissioner took over, she said.

Sharples said the way the early morning police raids in October 2007 were carried out was insulting.

"The pressure they put innocent people under, people having to lie down on the footpath in their nighties as their homes were raided."

The raids involving more than 300 police officers searching properties in Auckland, Wellington, Palmerston North, Hamilton and the Eastern Bay of Plenty were carried out under the Terrorism Suppression Act.

However, a month later the Solicitor-General David Collins ruled that law was "almost impossible to apply in a coherent manner" and firearms charges were laid instead.

Sharples said it was "wrong" to use one Act to investigate and arrest people on and another Act to lay charges.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/5577974/No-apology-over-Urewera-raids-Collins
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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #20 on: September 08, 2011, 07:42:08 am »


Then....on Radio NZ National's Checkpoint program last night, Police Commissioner Peter Marshall refused to “rule out” the possibility of apologising to Tuhoe after the “egg-on-face” trial next year.

I guess the Police Commissioner is leaving himself an “out” in case the amount of egg on his face gets too great (or Tony Ellis puts the boot in).

That will be pissing-off Judith Collins, eh? 




Police Commissioner won't commit to raids apology

Radio New Zealand News | 6:50PM - Wednesday, 07 September 2011

POLICE COMMISSIONER: Peter Marshall Won't “rule out” an eventual apology.
POLICE COMMISSIONER: Peter Marshall won't
“rule out” an eventual apology.


THE Police Commissioner will not commit to an apology to people belonging to Maori iwi Tuhoe caught up in raids over alleged military-style training camps in 2007.

On Tuesday, the Crown dropped proceedings against 13 of the 17 people who faced trial as a result of the raids in the Ureweras and elsewhere following a Supreme Court judgement issued last week. The ruling is suppressed.

The Crown is proceeding with its case against four people, including Tuhoe activist Tame Iti, who face firearms charges and being part of an organised criminal group. It expects the trial to begin in February 2012.

The Maori Party has called for an apology to the people of Bay of Plenty iwi Tuhoe, who say they were unfairly targeted while police carried out the investigation.

Police have been accused of invading the Ruatoki community in Bay of Plenty during the raids.

Police Commissioner Peter Marshall told Radio New Zealand's Checkpoint programme on Wednesday there were difficulties with the relationship between the iwi and police after the operation was carried out.

However, Mr Marshall says a decision on whether police will apologise or not will happen after the February trial.

"I unquestionably recognise that there were difficulties with the relationship as a result (of the raids). That doesn't take away in any shape or form from my absolute support for the prosecution and the investigators and the Crown decision to proceed as they have done."

Mr Marshall admits the investigation had a number of unintended consequences on the relationship with Tuhoe and police which will take some time to heal.

However, he stands by the decision to prosecute people charged after the raids, saying police had sound reasons to carry out search warrants and there will be no apology for any ongoing prosecutions.

Prime Minister John Key says he still believes police acted with the best intentions in the raids, despite charges being dropped against many accused.

Mr Key says that, in his view, police acted because they believed people were at risk.

"Now, that's not the basis of the ruling that's come out, in terms of whether information is admissible to the court or not, that's a completely different issue."

Mr Key would not say whether he thought an apology should be given to the people who are having charges against them dropped.


Listen to Radio NZ's Checkpoint interview with Police Commissioner Peter Marshall

‘Police credibility dented’

Tuhoe elder Tamati Kruger says the aftermath of the raids has dented police credibility.

Mr Kruger believes most New Zealanders consider the police action and what followed to be bogus, and if the charges were true they would have been done and dusted well before now. Police have declined to comment on this.

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says the people of Tuhoe have not recovered from the behaviour of police in 2007 and will continue to argue for an apology for those caught up in the raids.

Auckland Council for Civil Liberties president Barry Wilson also says a police apology should be made and that a report on the raids from the Independent Police Conduct Authority is overdue.

Suppression order

The Crown has said it intends to apply to have suppression orders on the Supreme Court judgement lifted, while preserving the rights of the remaining four to a fair trial.

Tame Iti's lawyer Russell Fairbrother said he has reservations about suppression orders being lifted until Mr Iti's trial has been heard.

"I have hesitation about increasing the level of media publicity from one perspective, which is the police perspective. If we can get Mr Iti's case heard or finalised before February, we'll try and do it that way."

Meanwhile, Crown solicitor Ross Burns says the Crown has agreed in principle to a jury trial for the four defendants, though the Crown Law Office has still to confirm this.

Supporters of the group have urged police to drop the charges saying the four-year wait for trials has become a farce.

But Mr Burns says that when the evidence comes out at trial it will be for a jury or judge to decide "whether in fact it was a farce or whether indeed it was important enough to justify the time and effort that has gone into it."


http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/84521/police-commissioner-won't-commit-to-raids-apology
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« Reply #21 on: September 08, 2011, 07:42:36 am »

...........There was some evidence that plans were being made to explode bombs in public places - coming to a supermarket near you!

If people can live with that and make excuses for the people who were planning it, well...... I guess they march to a different drum.

Just thought that amongst the 'noise' that this was worth repeating.


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Magoo
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« Reply #22 on: September 08, 2011, 07:54:06 am »

...........There was some evidence that plans were being made to explode bombs in public places - coming to a supermarket near you!

If people can live with that and make excuses for the people who were planning it, well...... I guess they march to a different drum.

Just thought that amongst the 'noise' that this was worth repeating.



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AnFaolchudubh
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« Reply #23 on: September 08, 2011, 09:16:47 am »

...........There was some evidence that plans were being made to explode bombs in public places - coming to a supermarket near you!

If people can live with that and make excuses for the people who were planning it, well...... I guess they march to a different drum.

Just thought that amongst the 'noise' that this was worth repeating.




The likes of KTJ won't worry till its there train or public place that is attacked!

All to often in this country we have the attitude of it won't/ can't happen to us and/ or it will never happen again.... you'd have thort we would have learnt from WWI that history repeats Roll Eyes

And when it looks like it will happen we close our eyes and stick our heads in the ground in the hopes it'll go away!
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« Reply #24 on: September 08, 2011, 06:39:30 pm »


One of my workmates was on the west coast of the USA recently.

He and his family caught the train from Seattle, Washington across the border to Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada.

The train went straight across the border at speed without stopping and when my workmate enquired of the conductor about entry formalities into Canada, he was told to simply present himself and his family at the Customs office at Vancouver Railway Station after they arrived. They could have easily simply walked out of the station, but did the right thing and presented themselves to Customs and were formally allowed into Canada, even though they were already there.

A few days later, they travelled back to the USA by train, heading for Portland, Oregon. US Customs stopped the train at the border and held it there for two hours while they harrassed everyone on the train, with the result that the train ended up two hours late and many passengers missed their ownward connections.

My workmate couldn't get over the difference in paranoia levels between Canada and the USA, or the way the USA Border Gestapo really behaved like Nazis, unlike their Canadian counterparts who were really welcoming.

No wonder the bottom has been dropping out of the USA's tourist market!
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