Tuhoe annoyed at prospect of retrial

The mood of Tuhoe could only be described as sombre yesterday as locals waited for Tame Iti to come home.

Returning to the Eastern Bay after a six-week trial in Auckland, he flew in to Whakatane at 1pm as police announced they would seek Crown Law advice about whether to pursue a retrial of the "Urewera Four" after a jury failed to reach a verdict on a charge alleging they were members of an organised criminal group.

Iti, Te Rangikaiwhiria Kemara and Emily Bailey were each found guilty of six firearms charges and not guilty of four. Bailey's partner Urs Signer was found guilty of five firearms charges and not guilty of five.

A hearing into a possible retrial will be held on April 18.

Yesterday a heavy mist hung over Te Urewera as people avoided the rain and the large media presence by staying indoors. One person, who spoke to The Daily Post but asked not to be named, said he believed Tuhoe people were split down the middle about the verdict.

"There are some who think it is a good verdict for Tuhoe and there are others who think it's just a continuation of the Crown's rhetoric," the man said.

"I believe people will be prepared to say more once the Crown decide whether to retry the four."

He said the rest of Tuhoe who had supported Iti in Auckland had left Te Tirahou Marae yesterday afternoon and were heading back to the Tuhoe Nation.

"Hoha [annoyance] is the feeling now there is word of a retrial."

The man said there would be many hui (meetings) to come in Ruatoki to discuss the verdict and, once a decision on a possible re-trial was made, to determine the path of Tuhoe.

Yesterday, the Greens and the Mana Party called for a Crown apology for Tuhoe, a call supported by 13-year-old Kunere Timoti who was riding the school bus to Taneatua School in October, 2007, the morning all hell broke loose in Ruatoki.

"I was only seven at the time," Kunere said. "I remember the bus stopping and then looking out my window. What I saw then will stay with me forever."

Kunere said a man wearing a balaclava had a gun pointed toward the bus.

Kunere described Tame Iti as a "funny fulla," who used to be his kapa haka tutor.

"I've never even seen Uncle Tame angry."

"The Crown need to let it go now, they need to apologise and let the people of Tuhoe get over what happened to them."

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