Decoding that sentence, it means we should have taken the Greens and community organisations more seriously when they criticised the Bill. The Herald has had reporters at two sets of Select Committee hearings, in 2009 and 2010, where the criticism the Herald is now raising was aired. The Herald is also aware of the nationwide rallies and protest marches since the Labour government introduced the Bill in 2008.

Perhaps what tipped the balance for the Herald was a realisation that the Bill enables the Police, and a range of other state agencies, to raid their offices and seize documents which disclose their sources. This is done through what are called Production Orders, which requires anyone who has material relating to an offence to produce it, or face a sentence of up to a year’s jail.

Also rightly worrying the Herald are Examination Orders, which require people to answer questions about more serious crime, again under threat of jail. This cancels our traditional right to silence. As an example, Tuhoe friends of Tame Iti could be forced to answer questions because the offence Tame is charged with, belonging to an organised criminal group, qualifies for an Examination Order under this Bill.

The Herald rightly says that the Examination and Production Orders, when applied to the media, do matter to the public. “Important revelations of wrongdoing by criminals, business or political leaders and, crucially, investigating authorities themselves are invariably from confidential sources.”

I would advise the Herald to take a closer look at some of the other oppressive provisions in the Bill, like the surveillance warrants that allow Police to place covert cameras inside people’s living rooms for certain offences. For a summary of the problems with the Bill see my Green Party Minority report in the report back to Parliament from the Justice and Electoral Select Committee.

For further information on the Bill go to our search and surveillance webpage

 The book includes the voices of 15 people who were seriously impacted by the raids at Ruatoki and elsewhere throughout Aotearoa. All of these people are clear that not only were the terrorism charges ridiculous but that the ongoing cases are all about police trying to save face. They raise the questions about the real agenda of the Government of the day in targeting Tuhoe and a range of activists who did not have a conspiracy to wreak major violence against the state; some of them did not know each other and some were whanau. 

The book gives a very fresh and immediate insight into the events of October 15 and subsequent days. It is particularly disturbing in terms of the long-term impacts on the raids on the Tuhoe whanau, from children terrified, adults humiliated and traumatised and lives placed on hold. Meanwhile the Crown scrabbles for evidence in  cases which are now reduced to firearms charges or “participation in an organised criminal group”.

Tamati Kruger lead negotiator for Tuhoe and Te Urewera was present at the book launch as well as other Tuhoe whanau who had travelled from the heart of the forest to the event in Wellington. For them this event is a continuation of state terror versus self-determination and echoes the experience of Rua Kenana at Maungapohatu. Armed police searching citizens on the exact spot where a confiscation line was drawn in the 1880’s would tend to reinforce the experience of ongoing historical assault.    

It would seem the police raids have built a strong sense of unity between some of the tangata whenua and the urban activist communities across the country but I am not sure that was the police’s intention.

The trial date has been set for May 30 2011 and in the meantime I urge people to buy and read this book.

The good news is that I was having dinner with Ngati Porou as opposed to their neighbouring iwi, which is Tuhoe, in which case I would have been dinner, which wouldn’t have been quite so attractive.

Tūhoe negotiator Tamati Kruger is not amused, describing it as “in poor taste”.

I would be less diplomatic.  However Key intended it, it is far from funny.  A reference to an iwi as cannibals is nasty, racist, and totally unbefitting any politician in this country, let alone the Prime Minister.

Shameful.

I will not forget the conversations I had with people from Ruatoki about short term and long term trauma for their tamariki, and with the people who became afraid to leave their homes and afraid to stay at home. It was also very disturbing to hear stories from young families of armed police bursting through their doors and rummaging through their baby’s clothing drawers.

Tuhoe bore the worst and let us not forget that Tuhoe remain an unconquered people who paid the price of their independence.

This week the Green Party supports the cultural events commemorating the human rights outrages and the spirit of solidarity and activism.

So let all activists and community people working for change remember October 15th and lets support the cool art exhibition, workshops and art auction this Saturday. The name of the exhibition is “Explosive Expression.”

If you have never heard the words “Come out with your hands up” bellowed through your broken doorway at dawn, please don’t imagine it cannot happen.

“Tuhoe’s history has been one of resistance, so therefore it could be a defining moment. It could see us take a huge step forward, because at the end of the day, both the Crown and Tuhoe have to talk about the relationship,” Mr Te Pou said.

Meanwhile Dr Cullen said Tuhoe were a people who had suffered “significant injustice”.

“As the result of Crown action your people have at times suffered poverty, famine, and significant isolation.”

As well as that the Crown’s recent (and unrelated) ‘terrorism’ raids in Te Urewera and the upcoming trials will hang over the first phase of negotiations. The negotiations are likely to be something that the next government, whoever that is comprised of, will need to show significant good faith to complete successfully.

In this case, as others, that will require that the claimants are adequately resourced to prepare and present their case, and that the government invests time and energy into ensuring that the public understands the history behind and reason for the negotiations.  People will need to see increased transparency and accountability from the government for a successful restorative deal to be brokered.

Photo Credit: Tom@North