KEY POINTS:
Labour's Mahara Okeroa today called for Police Commissioner Howard Broad to apologise over the "anti-terror raids".
There was a public outcry in October last year following the raids at Ruatoki in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, centre of the Ureweras-based Tuhoe tribe.
Similar raids were carried out in
Whakatane, Palmerston North, Auckland and Wellington. Police arrested 17 people.
Solicitor-General David Collins rejected an application to prosecute a number of those arrested under the Terrorism Suppression Act. Charges remained under the Arms Act and prosecutions are ongoing.
Mr Okeroa, speaking at an election forum on Maori issues at Massey University in Wellington today, said the police action was "completely and totally unacceptable".
"The question I ask is have we learnt anything in our history?"
He talked about what happened at Parihaka where Maori non-violent resistance to government land grabs saw the community raided by troops and land alienated.
"I would suggest to the commissioner of police that he get up there and he make an apology to the people."
National Party Maori Affairs spokeswoman Georgina te Heuheu told the forum police had used the Act inappropriately and that she felt Tuhoe's pain.
"The greatest thing any government can do for all citizens is to ensure that the law is applied correctly in our country."
Maori Party candidate Rahui Katene, who is seeking to win Mr Okeroa's Te Tai Tonga electorate seat, said the raids were an unacceptable abuse of power.
Green MP Metiria Turei said her party had opposed the terrorism law all the way through and was unsurprised it was used to target vulnerable groups - rural Maori and disaffected youth.
"They did exactly what was expected - they would use this legislation to oppress our own people."
New Zealand First MP Pita Paraone used the question to criticise the prevalence of gangs in Maori communities while ACT candidate Michael Collins said the raids were an attack on civil liberties.
Mr Broad has previously said the raids were legitimate but admitted there were concerns at the impact of the police operation on innocent people in Ruatoki.
A police national headquarters spokesman said police were working with the Ruatoki community to try restore confidence.
"We are taking steps to work through all the issues."
He said elders and police were working towards an agreement which would then be made public.
- NZPA
