KEY POINTS:
A Maori activist linked to the terror raids had previously argued that true sovereignty could be achieved only through waging war.
A 156-page affidavit provided to the court by police as evidence to obtain search warrants against the "Urewera 16" identifies Te Rangikaiwhiria Kemara as a key figure in inquiries.
Kemara, 38, of Auckland was released on bail this month after appearing in the Auckland District Court charged with eight firearms offences - including possession of a molotov cocktail.
Kemara has a history of radicalism and has strident views about tino rangatiratanga or Maori sovereignty - a cause also close to the heart of Tame Iti, who advocates the establishment of an independent Tuhoe nation.
Before police stumbled on training camps in the Urewera, Kemara had spoken about ways of Maori achieving total independence.
"When it comes to issues of sovereignty, talk is cheap, constitutional debates are rhetoric - around the world and in history, sovereignties have only ever changed hands or [been] reinforced at the edge of a sword, bayonet or bombs," Kemara wrote on the site Kiwiblog after controversy two years ago over Iti shooting a New Zealand flag on a marae.
History had proven that sovereignty changed hands only after war was declared - apart from in New Zealand where it was achieved by the group with the "biggest army and police".
Kemara also defended Iti's actions, saying the law around discharging weapons in a public place was "very vague" and the only reason he had been arrested for firing the shotgun was because of pressure from "redneck politicians".
The charges were designed to protect the complete sovereignty and strength of Parliament, he said.
Also in 2005, Kemara posted a "One Year On" report on the internet, reflecting on the foreshore and seabed hikoi which marched on Parliament the year before.
"On Revolution/uprising: I doubt there will ever be a revolt led by 'Maori' per se unless we somehow have a [massive] shift in base thinking."
Further on in the article, he wrote that action had been restricted to conventional protest because "many believe there is still hope". But he said that the treatment of Maori by the Crown meant there was little chance of change.
Kiwiblog webmaster David Farrar told the Herald on Sunday the comments posted on his blog in Kemara's name came from the email address rangi@aocafe.com. Aocafe.com is registered with domainz.net.nz to Kemara.
It is understood police believe the group's activities in the Urewera were motivated by a desire to create a separate Tuhoe state but it is not known if strategies were in place.
Urewera training camps were 'basic boy scout stuff'
One of the men arrested in the police anti-terror raids is rubbishing claims of an IRA-style plot to launch all-out war, saying the Urewera camps were like "boy scout" training.
Veteran protester Jamie Lockett - one of 17 people arrested on firearms offences in last month's police raids - also poured cold water on suggestions he was a terrorist, or had any involvement in alleged talk of assassinating US president George Bush and National Party Leader John Key.
However, Lockett's claims are inconsistent with what police say they found. Solicitor-General David Collins has said while he couldn't authorise charges under the Terrorism Suppression Act, police evidence showed some of the accused were involved in "very disturbing activities".
Lockett, 46, confirmed he attended three camps but claimed he knew of no talk about guerilla warfare. "I didn't hear any of that discussion. I didn't see any evidence of that," he said. "There was nothing sinister going on otherwise I would not have gone down. It was basic boy scout stuff."
Lockett said participants in the camps - which police say were for weapons training - were taught bush survival and orienteering skills with the focus on working as a team.
They were aware that police may have been monitoring their activities, but no one was concerned, he said.
Police Commissioner Howard Broad has maintained the camps were being run to train people for "military-style activity".
Lockett said he could not recall making a "vicious commando" remark attributed, but had some recollection of the other comments.
But he said those remarks were simply an angry reaction to an earlier arrest.
