Nov 9, 2007 4:45 PM

Six people arrested in anti-terror raids have today been bailed.

Among them is high profile activist Tame Iti.

Iti was the only defendant not to object to publication of his image.

Valerie Morse, Emily Bailey, Omar Hamed and a Swiss national with name suppression all objected to even pixelated images being used.

Whiri Kemara was bailed earlier today and also objected to the use of his image.

All those bailed today have tight conditions including not going to Ruatoki, not possessing a firearm or passport and regular reporting to police stations.

David Collins QC made the announcement that he would be not pursuing charges against the accused under the Terrorism Suppression Act on Thursday but endorsed police work on the case, saying they acted appropriately.

Whiri Kemara has been in custody since his arrest on October 15. He is facing eight firearms charges, including possession of a molotov cocktail.

Bail hearings are also expected for 11 others still in custody since the raids.

Call for resignation

The Maori Party wants Police Commissioner Howard Broad to resign. The party says the police force has instilled a fear of terrorism in New Zealand following last month’s raids.

Co-leader Tariana Turia says Broad and others need to go to Tuhoe, apologise, and then resign. She says the party objects to the way police have terrified the country when they didn’t need to.

Turia says there were pieces of legislation other than the Terrorism Suppression Act which could have been used to address the issues.

The party is also worried about the damage to their image the police raids will continue to have on Maori people.

Co-leader Pita Sharples says people around the world now think Maori are terrorists and the situation needs to be repaired.

Sharples says there is a lot of propaganda about New Zealand’s race relations, but in terms of Maori and Tuhoe they are seen as terrorists.

He has also questioned whether there was government involvement in trying to have terror charges laid.

Prime Minister Helen Clark has highlighted the fact that Solicitor General David Collins is satisfied police had sufficient and proper basis for investigating under the Suppression of Terrorism Act.

Police Minister Annette King says she has great confidence in the integrity of the police and she believes they acted properly.

And Tuhoe are keen to move on from their recent dealings with police.

The Te Urewera-based iwi is welcoming the decision not to allow police to lay charges under the Terrorism Suppression Act and spokesman Tamati Kruger says the iwi doesn’t want to isolate itself from the rest of the country.

Kruger says they want to be contributing members of society and that means having good relationships with people. He says many families are still feeling traumatised after the raids.

Source: Newstalk ZB/ONE News