New Zealand Police raid houses across Aotearoa

In a wave of massive state repression, 300+ Police, in many cases armed, raided houses around the country (Aotearoa / New Zealand) on October 15, making 17 arrests. Search warrants were carried out in Auckland, Whakatane, Ruatoki, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington and Christchurch. Police are also seeking up to 60 people for questioning. The arrestees are all activists in the Tino Rangatiratanga, peace and environmental movements.
Prominent Tino Rangatiratanga activist Tame Iti was among the first arrested at his home at 4am Monday morning. At 6am raids were carried out at A Space Inside anarchist social centre in Auckland [ Search Warrant ] and the 128 activist Community Centre in Wellington [ Video of police raid ]. In Tuhoe Country, the town of Ruatoki was blockaded by armed police for several hours, with no cars allowed in and many searched, including a school bus full of children.
14 of the arrestees appeared in court hearings in Auckland, Rotorua and Wellington the same afternoon and were all refused bail. All but two received name suppression. They have all been charged under the Arms Act with various offenses relating to alleged possession of various firearms and ammunition.

Independent Media Center | www.indymedia.org | ((( i )))