KEY POINTS:
A series of protests against this week's anti-terror raids have taken place across the country.
As many as a thousand people joined a march in Whakatane to complain about children being caught up in the police operation.
In another protest, around 50 people gathered outside the District Court
in Auckland to voice their opposition to the police raids and demand those arrested are released on bail.
In Wellington, there were 150 outside court to protest as bail hearings were held.
The peaceful Whakatane hikoi began behind the main street before marching through the ground floor of the Whakatane District Council and on to the police station.
Protesters carried placards, one of which said: "He taonga te mokopuna (our children are treasures). We are not terrorists, we have been terrorised."
Several Maori sovereignty flags were carried and another sign said: "Hey you, leave our kids alone."
A group of students from Te Wharekura o Ruatoki performed a moving haka which lasted about 10 minutes before various speakers addressed the crowd, including the Maori Party's Te Ururoa Flavell.
Bus driver Isaac Nuku also spoke to the crowd. Mr Nuku was angry at the police who have refuted claims they boarded a school bus with guns.
"They did hop on our bus. They did search our bus," Mr Nuku said.
One of the hikoi organisers, Mere Nuku, said children had been caught up in the raids, not just on the school bus, but in the homes that were raided too.
"All these people decked out in black. All the children could see was those eyes and those guns," she said.
The protesters delivered a petition to the police and were met by acting area commander Greg Standen.
Mr Standen told the protesters that their complaints will be handled by police headquarters in Wellington.
He said he hoped the protesters would get swift answers to their concerns and applauded them for the way they conducted the protest.
Police Minister Annette King and Education Minister Steve Maharey have both said they were told the armed offenders squad did not enter the bus.
Police watched the hikoi from the steps of the police station, surrounded by children in Ruatoki School uniforms who carried out the haka.
The hikoi ended after about two hours with no reports of arrests.
Seventeen people, including Maori activist Tame Iti, were arrested in initial raids around the country on Monday, and further raids have taken place throughout the week.
Police Association president Greg O'Connor said much of the criticism of police has been outrageous and unbalanced and is coming from entirely predictable quarters, such as politicians seeking airtime and those subjected to the searches.
Mr O'Connor said police have learnt the best way of conducting such operations over the years.
He said unless there is a thorough, well-researched approach, things can get out of control and people can get hurt, including police and the people they are trying to protect.
- with NEWSTALK ZB, NZPA
