October 15th Solidarity

The Dominion Post, 22nd October 2008

A Labour MP has broken ranks by calling on Police Commissioner Howard Broad to apologise over the "anti-terror raids".

Te Tai Tonga MP Mahara Okeroa told an election forum on Maori issues at Massey University in Wellington yesterday that the police action was "completely and totally unacceptable".

The Government has backed police over the raids which took place at Ruatoki, the centre of the Ureweras-based Tuhoe tribe in Eastern Bay of Plenty, and elsewhere in October, sparking a public outcry.

But Mr Okeroa said Mr Broad should "get up there and ... make an apology to the people".

Prime Minister Helen Clark could not be contacted for comment.

A police national headquarters spokesman said officers were working with the Ruatoki community to restore confidence in police.

Seventeen people were arrested in the raids, but Solicitor-General David Collins rejected an application to prosecute a number of those arrested under the Terrorism Suppression Act. Prosecutions under the Arms Act are continuing.

National Party Maori affairs spokeswoman Georgina te Heuheu told the forum that police had used the act inappropriately.

Meanwhile, the Maori Party plans to introduce a member's bill requiring 75 per cent of Parliament to agree before the Maori seats can be abolished.

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples said he would place the bill in the ballot after the election. At present a simple 51 per cent majority of MPs voting in Parliament could abolish the seats.

"Maori seats in Parliament require protection until such time as there is a broader and more meaningful process of constitutional change, or Maori freely chose ... to abolish the seats."

The party will issue its Treaty policy today.