New Zealand anti-terrorist raids hit race relations

Oct 18, 2007, 10:33 GMT

Wellington - A series of raids by armed New Zealand police on terrorist suspects this week, targeted the nation's indigenous Maoris, have set back race relations by 100 years, a Maori political leader said on Thursday.

Pita Sharples said the police used 'storm-trooper tactics' that violated the cultural sanctity of Maori in Monday's dawn raids in which they arrested 17 people and seized weapons, including military-style automatic rifles and Molotov cocktails.

Sharples said the raids violated trust that had been developing between the Pakeha (European) majority and Maoris, who account for about 15 per cent of the 4.2 million population.

A well-known Maori activist, Tame Iti, who has campaigned for independence for his Tuhoe tribe, which police alleged was at the centre of a series of para-military training camps, was the highest profile arrest.

Sharples said Iti, who is being held in custody on firearms charges, was a 'victim of racism.'

And the Minister of Maori Affairs, Parekura Horomia, told the TV3 channel that he did not believe Iti was a terrorist.

'I can't see Tame Iti actually being involved in overthrowing the government,' he said.

But Prime Minister Helen Clark, speaking from Tonga, where she was attending a regional summit, dismissed charges of racism, saying it did not matter what ethnic group, culture or faith alleged perpetrators of crime were.

'It is clear to me that there has been, at the very least, illicit use of firearms and explosive devices,' she said. 'That will always call for police response.'