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.