AP - New Zealand police raided what they called military-style training camps and private homes on Monday, seizing firearms and arresting 17 people from domestic groups on arms and possible terrorism offenses, authorities said.

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this has deeply disturbed me... seems that the police have enacted our anti terrorism laws to go after a grab bag of indigenous rights, environmental and peace activists. none of which i would consider dangerous at all. hell...they even raided a couple of music venues and open houses throughout the country

i know of at least one guy who was arrested on the strength of what he had been buying on the trademe internet auction site (our ebay equivalent)


being a political activist (or any sort of activist) should not be worthy of a dawn raid arrest UNLESS they have broken the law....i will be watching how this plays out. doesn't feel right to me

Maori families living in the Ureweras feel "intimidated" and "harassed" by police anti-terrorism raids, Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell says.

Several people have appeared in court following a nation-wide police swoop this morning targeting Maori and political activists.

Police cited possible crimes under the Firearms Act and the Terrorism Suppression Act as the reasons for the raids.

Police Commissioner Howard Broad said the sting was the culmination of a year-long investigation into weapons training camps alleged to have been held in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

High profile activist Tama Iti is among those charged and Ruatoki residents are polarised by what is happening.

One woman who asked not to be named said "some people like [Tame Iti] and some think he is just an idiot.

"He is all mouth. I don't think he is a danger in that sense but he is one of the idiots who fires his rifle off - he only has to slip. All the maraes have clamped down on him, he's not to bring guns onto any of the maraes any more, they've had enough."

Said another man: "It's about time they sorted him out."

Ameria Nuku said she was stopped at the way to work at 7.45 am by police.

"They were checking vehicles even under the bonnets looking for firearms or weapons of any sort. They had a list of people who had firearms but no licenses."

Mr Flavell today questioned the manner in which police had carried out the raids in Ruatoki and the surrounding Urewera Valley.

He said at one point a school bus was stopped and searched as armed police swarmed over the area.

Some people were arrested by armed officers in front of their children. The community was left feeling fearful and under siege, he said.

"The real concern that's been expressed to my office has been the impact on the young children and families and mothers who had to see officers running around with guns this morning," he said.

"The Maori families living in my electorate feel unduly harassed by the number of search warrants imposed, the charges laid, and the intimidation they believe they have experienced this morning."

Mr Flavell said most people in the area owned firearms as hunting was a popular form of food-gathering in the Ureweras.

He said it appeared as if Maori had been targeted, as had been a fear of critics when the Terrorism Suppression Act was passed in 2002.

While public safety was paramount, he hoped police had the evidence to back up their claims or their relationship with Maori communities would be seriously damaged.

RESIDENT 'MYSTIFIED' BY WELLINGTON RAID

Sam Buchanan, who lives at 128 Abel Smith St in Wellington's Te Aro district, said he was mystified why his home was raided by police.

Police left the scene shortly before 1pm with various bags containing clothes and documents.

Mr Buchanan said he had not been involved in any training camps.

He would not say if he was involved with Greenpeace or any other environmental group.

There is a sign on the door of the house which reads The Mechanical Tempest.

Mr Buchanan said he and other residents ran a free bicycle repair workshop.

The house was used as a venue for numerous classes, including language and dance.

There had never been any firearms at the property but "millions" of people had been associated with this house, Mr Buchanan said.

The four Wellington accused have connections with the house, but none of them live there, and no one was arrested during the police raid.

Mr Buchanan said police told him he could not leave the house and that the warrant for the search was issued under the Terrorism Act.

Police had broken a glass door into the house and Mr Buchanan said he supposed he was expected to replace it.

"It's been a very annoying morning," he said.

An associate of the four Wellington accused, Arthur Price, said the community was in shock over the arrests.

"It's just absolutely ridiculous. I'm almost positive none of them have been involved with anything to do with firearms.

"They're all peace activists," he said.

LOCKE SCEPTICAL

Green Party MP Keith Locke today said he too was sceptical of aspects of the raids.

It appeared different groups had been targeted in different parts of the country and it was hard to see how some of them could be related.

As well as the Wellington "community house" being among the raids, members of the anti-mining Save Happy Valley group in Christchurch had also been questioned by police.

"That's exactly what I and other critics warned about when the law was passed in 2002," he said.

"It just seems strange that all these different groups with different agendas seem to have been raided on the same day."

Greenpeace New Zealand said it knew nothing about any of the alleged activities which had caused the police raids and denied any involvement.

New Zealand First MP Ron Mark linked the raids to criminal gangs.

"Police must be congratulated for their actions in heading off what appears to be a major threat to public safety," said the party's law and order spokesman Ron Mark.

"I am particularly concerned, however, as there is a strong smell of involvement by our established criminal gangs in today's events.

Mr Mark, who has in the past called for gangs to be outlawed, said they were well known black market suppliers of restricted weapons – systematically raiding private arms collectors to obtain the arms.

- With NZPA and Sunday Star Times

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4238597a10.html

Dawn raid on the "mechanical tempest" bicycle repair co-op and open house

What began with police smashing through a door in the early hours ended with four "pacifists" accused of firearms charges and a courtroom full of bewildered supporters.
About 85 police raided 10 places in the lower North and South Islands yesterday morning, looking for people, firearms and ammunition.
Two men and two women appeared in Wellington District Court charged with numerous offences under the Arms Act - many were on joint charges with Tame Iti and other activists.
Seventeen people were arrested in raids across the country.
All four arrested in Wellington lived at different addresses.
Between them they were charged with possession of firearms, large-calibre semi-automatic weapons, Molotov cocktails, shotguns and rifles.
Judge Michael Radford remanded the four in custody till Friday. Their names are suppressed.
Their supporters laughed in disbelief when told of the charges outside the courtroom, saying the four were "pacifists".
About 25 police raided a big house at 128 Abel Smith about 6am, knocking before smashing through the door.
Posters in the window say Save Happy Valley and Free Burma, and residents run a free bicycle repair shop. Above the door of the house, a sign reads: The Mechanical Tempest.

A woman who said she was asleep in the house at the time said she was woken by smashing glass and yelling.
"They burst through shining their flashlights and yelling. It was just really scary."
Police took about six evidence bags containing clothes and documents from the house.
Neighbour Vicki Highgate said she woke to the sound of windows smashing.
She said she did not know anyone who lived there, because there were a lot of people coming and going.
Sam Buchanan, who lives in the house, said he was mystified.
Mr Buchanan said he had not been involved in any training camps but would not say if he was involved with any environmental group.
In Palmerston North, a grey-haired man, 53, appeared in court charged with unlawful possession of a rifle. He was remanded in custody.
Neighbours described him as "very low-key". One, who had lived beside the man for five years, said he was shocked.
"I just can't believe it, he's a really nice guy. We've had a cup of tea and talked, but he never went on about Maori stuff. He's intelligent, respectful and there's never been any problems."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4238835a11.html

This is why citizens must be more diligent in guarding their rights than ever before. Terrorism is an excellent excuse for the outright abuse of the population and the degradation of human rights.

Originally Posted by major liability

This is why citizens must be more diligent in guarding their rights than ever before. Terrorism is an excellent excuse for the outright abuse of the population and the degradation of human rights.

Once again I am left saying just wait and see how this develops I even find myself agreeing with out minister of police (and I really dislike politicians) who said save your judgment on these actions until after the trials.

Personally though I think this is a storm in a tea cup that will probably blow over by next week, at this point I think a bunch of idiots have managed to shoot their mouths off just long enough to get themselves arrested.


http://stuff.co.nz/4239580a10.html

radio interview about the raids, and the tactics used


http://www.radionz.co.nz/__data/asse...Raids-wmbr.asx

Originally Posted by Infern0

Like the rainbow warrior thing isn't it

There are dangerous radicals in every cause but yeah this is a real screwup.