A court has refused to free Maori activist Tame Iti on bail following this week's police raids.
Iti, 55, also faced new charges in court today - possession of three firearms including a military-style Saiga rifle.
He was one of 17 people arrested on Monday under the Firearms Act and the Terrorism Suppression Act after raids in Wellington, Auckland, Palmerston North, Christchurch, Hamilton, Whakatane and Ruatoki, 20km south of Whakatane.
The raids targeted Maori sovereignty, environmental and political activists, netting a haul of weapons.
Police conducted further raids today on properties in Palmerston North, Wellington and Lake Waikaremoana.
A spokeswoman from police national headquarters said two properties in Palmerston North, one in Lower Hutt, one in Wellington, and one at Lake Waikaremoana had been searched.
Today's hearing at Rotorua District Court was closed to the media and the judge expressed concerns that some media had obtained the police statement of facts relating to the case.
Tame Iti was denied bail and remanded in custody until October 24.
A further four people were denied bail when they appeared in court in Wellington today.
Police want to move them to Auckland to appear with others arrested during Monday's police raids.
Prosecutor Grant Burston said the crown expected to address bail and name suppression issues along with the possibility of adding further charges at a November 1-2 hearing in Auckland District Court.
Judge Ian Mill said it was unreasonable to expect the defence to wait until November to apply for bail.
The defendants are currently being held in custody and police opposed bail.
Judge Mill said bail applications for the four would be considered in Wellington on Friday and the less urgent change of venue application would also be addressed, "time permitting".
Lawyer for one of the accused, Michael Bott told the court he had experienced difficulties getting in touch with his client at Rimutaka prison.
He noted it was "in effect" the state was blocking his client from access to his lawyer.
The four accused, who have name suppression, appeared cheerful in the dock, smiling and waving at supporters in the packed public gallery.
Outside a crowd, some with signs, gathered and stood quietly.
Many of them said they were friends of the defendants and said accusations of terrorism were "ridiculous".
They milled about after the hearing until someone used a megaphone to announce the result of the hearing.
"Thanks for supporting our friends. They're not terrorists, it's bullshit" he told the crowd before passing around a bag to collect donations towards legal fees, books and phone cards.
Yesterday, police spokesman Jon Neilson said more arrests were possible as the operation continued.
He said although weapons and "other armaments" had been seized during the raids, police would not go into specifics or confirm suggestions that a napalm bomb was among the contraband.
He said police had discussed whether or not seized weapons would be displayed publicly but had in the short-term decided against it.
Meanwhile, the police union is backing police actions in the face of public and political criticism.
Critics have questioned whether it was necessary for police to break into houses during yesterday's raids and how accurate their intelligence was.
Police Association president Greg O'Connor said today the operation was a "reality check" for New Zealanders who dismissed the threat of home-grown terrorism.
"This operation has been triggered by credible intelligence of a serious threat to New Zealand's safety and security, and the Police Association fully supports the actions taken by police yesterday," he said.
"We need to realise there are fringe elements in our society, as in all others, that draw inspiration and encouragement from extremist activities overseas that most of us would find horrifying."
Mr O'Connor said the majority of such people were probably little more than fantasists "who won't do more than it takes to get themselves on the front page of the paper".
However, it only took a handful of dangerous extremists amongst them to create chaos and carnage.
- with NZPA