The 2007 Urewera terror raids

Don't expect much interest from most of the NZ media - they'll be obsessed with a murder in London

Compensation over Urewera raids possible - lawyer

A lawyer says dozens of people caught up in the Urerewa police raids in 2007 are entitled to compensation.

Radio NZ,

23 May, 2013

The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) on Wednesday released a long-awaited report into the raids carried out in October 2007.

It found that officers unlawfully detained people at five properties, set up illegal road blocks at Ruatoki and Taneatua in the Bay of Plenty and intimidated innocent residents, including children.

The police have apologised and accepted the report, but Police Commissioner Peter Marshall says no officers will be disciplined as they acted professionally and in good faith.

Tuhoe activist Tame Iti was convicted on firearms charges as a result of the raids and intends seeking compensation from the police. His lawyer Russell Fairbrother QC says the commissioner is trying to downplay the offending.

"It's not just a trivial thing that occurred and it ignores the trauma that many innocent people suffered. People were held at gunpoint, they were photographed, they had to do what they were told. You can't just wave that away by saying it's semantics."

Mr Fairbrother says those detained in their homes, arrested or stopped at roadblocks could claim under the law of torts for detention, unlawful arrest, and possibly assault, and could also claim under the Bill of Rights. He says they could be entitled to compensation for trauma, damage to their home or clothing and loss of wages.

A lawyer who complained to the Independent Police Conduct Authority says the Police Commissioner isn't taking the report seriously enough.

Peter Williams QC acted on behalf of people in Tuhoe territory and his complaint to the authority following the raids included 18 accounts from residents.

Mr Williams says armed officers trashed people's houses and intimidated innocent people, including children. "These are ordinary decent people and they've been treated in a shocking manner."

He says police have breached the law and there should be some kind of settlement such as the donation of a library for the children.

Police Commissioner Peter Marshall accepts the IPCA report's criticisms and acknowledges illegality in some parts of the raids. He said on Wednesday police did not go in with any malice, but misinterpreted legislation they were working under.

Mr Marshall apologised to any innocent people caught up in the raids, but defended the use of road blocks, saying police did have concerns about a group of people in the area when they set up them up.

He said that, if asked, he will go to Ruatoki at whatever time suits people to talk with them, and has already spoken to several senior Tuhoe leaders.

Raids still fresh in residents' minds

A Ruatoki resident caught up in the 2007 Urewera raids says compensation or a police apology is unlikely to repair the damage done to the community.

Miria Tuhaka told Radio New Zealand's Morning Report programme police refused her attempts to help a neighbour's children who were traumatised after the adults in their house were arrested.

She says the children were screaming and confused but officers wouldn't let them go to them for at least half an hour.

"We were saying to them 'all we're worried about are the children, look at them, they're screaming, they don't know what's happening' and the oldest there at the time would have been seven years old."

Ms Tuhaka says the day is still fresh in her mind and an apology from the police won't change that.

Listen to Miria Tuhaka on Morning Report

Ruatoki community to discuss findings

Plans are underway to schedule a hui in the Ruatoki community to discuss the IPCA report. Te Komiti o Runga, which consists of two delegates from each of the nine hapu in the Ruatoki Valley, is planning to meet to discuss the findings.

Tuhoe kuia Te Waiarangi Harawira witnessed the raids and says the report is unlikely to remedy anything as it has taken too long. But she says although it may not change the way the community feels, the findings needs to be shared.

Ruatoki resident Akuera Te Moana says the day of the raids day is still fresh in the minds of all the community.

He says those who were directly affected need to read the report. "The community still needs to know what has happened and what shouldn't have happened in regards to being branded as terrorists as such."

Te Komiti o Runga is still to finalise plans for the hui, but expects it to happen in the next few weeks.

UREWERA LAWYERS CALL POLICE COMMISSIONER ARROGANT AND FLIPPANT

Lawyers acting for Tuhoe caught up in the Urewera raids say the Police Commissioner has been arrogant and flippant about the IPCA investigation into the operation which found the police broke the law.

RUATOKI RESIDENT SAYS SHE'LL NEVER FORGET UREWERA RAID

Miria Tuhaka is one of the residents caught up in the operation, She joins us from Ruatoki.

Here is last night's interview with Police commissioner, Peter Marshall