Seven years after armed police raided homes and detained people at gun point in Taneatua and Ruatoki a personal apology has been made.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush personally apologised to six families affected by the 2007 Urewera police raids and confirmed a settlement has been reached with Tuhoe iwi over the operation.
veteran activist Tame Iti and Police Commissioner Mike Bush. Photo: Twitter.
There were 17 people arrested in the raids, which the Independent Police Conduct Authority report last year found police acted unlawfully in establishing roadblocks and detaining and searching people in October 2007.
The raids on people deemed involved in military-style training camps in the Urewera forest in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.
Four of those arrested were eventually convicted on firearms charges.
Among those arrested was veteran activist Tame Iti, who served 30 months on firearms offences following the raids.
He posted two pictures on Twitter of himself with Mr Bush during the visit -- one of the pair holding mugs.
"Mike Bush listened to our hurt, looked us in the eye and apologised for how the police handled raids. We feel better," Tame tweeted.
Mike Bush met with six Ruatoki families and spoke to the wider community.
"I have apologised to those whanau who experienced unnecessary stress during that time and felt a loss of credibility and mana. It was important to me that I personally deliver this apology, in private, to redress the hurt felt in Tuhoe," he says in a statement.
"What resulted was a sense of tino mamae for tamariki, whanau, the wider community and Iwi Maori, with a number of well established relationships damaged," says Mike.
"The visits are to acknowledge these whanau, the fear that they experienced, the situations they were placed in and the damage that was caused. It's really important to me to say sorry to those children who were present so they know what happened to them was wrong.
"I would like to thank Tuhoe for being open and willing to work reciprocally with Police in order to reach this point.”
He also thanked the work of previous police commissioners and support provided by Maori leaders.
6 comments
raids
Posted on 28-07-2014 13:24 | By OAP
What comes next ? Apologies to criminals for having arrested them? The police must be free to investigate and take action without having to worry about later apologies!!!
Overit
Posted on 28-07-2014 16:39 | By overit
I am sure there was more to the story than what was published.Iti looks pleased with himself, so would I be if the Govt. gave me a National Park and governance. Pakeha seem to be apologising for so much these days and for things not even done in this Century.
read first before you comment
Posted on 28-07-2014 18:26 | By Elba
I am responding to OAP comment do you not watch the news or even read the article theses people are not criminals they were treated unfair hence the police did something wrong thats why they are there saying sorry omogosh
It takes a brave..
Posted on 28-07-2014 20:20 | By awaroa
Person to apologise like what has happened here. Good on Mr Bush. He seems like a down to earth man who simply knows right from wrong. Unlike OAP..
so then!!!!
Posted on 29-07-2014 06:51 | By Sambo Returns
as some suggest it takes a brave person to apologise, Tame Iti and some of his disciples cannot be that brave then..... as with most things fault is with both parties, some historical, some more recent, running around with firearms inciting insurrection, obviously does not "cut the mustard" on the apology stakes.
apology
Posted on 29-07-2014 09:51 | By dumbkof2
Watch out. The demands for substantnal compensation will be coming in thick and fast now
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