KEY POINTS:
A member of the group dubbed the Freedom Fighters says the organisation is about 4000 strong and has been running monthly fitness camps, not guerrilla-style weapons training, in the Ureweras for more than a year.
"Predominantly it's every month, you have the major one - the main camp. You can go down there, it's a very open forum. You can talk about things, you can go for a decent trek through the bush but you have to be reasonably fit to do so," he said.
"We are a very well-organised and well-disciplined organisation with up to 4000 foot soldiers and we are focusing on racism, mental health and corruption in our Government."
When asked further about what police have described as guerrilla-style camps in the bush, the man, who only wanted to be known as Dave, said: "They are training camps.
"They are training for health. It's in a beautiful forest, it's one part of New Zealand that's still New Zealand and we want to keep it that way."
Asked if weapons were involved, either with the group or at the camps, he repeatedly refused to comment.
His only hint at weaponry or combat strength was in the comment: "We have the ability to protect New Zealand in the event of any threat from any other country."
Dave said the group was not called Freedom Fighters but did not have any other particular name besides members referring to themselves as "New Zealanders".
He said the group, which had been running for more than a year, was "working for New Zealand" and wanted land titles changed so land was returned to Maori, but it was not just about activism.
"It's not a Maori activist bunch of people. We are there for fitness, we are there for education, we are there for mental health and we are there for the long-term goals of New Zealanders."
When asked why police would go to so much effort for a non-threatening, non-violent group, Dave said one of the men arrested in Auckland was involved in a group called the International Complaints Service.
That man had been on some of the fitness camps and Dave said police may have confused his theories and policies with the group.
"With [his] involvement I think police have had a justified attitude in investigating the group.
"He is mentally unsound, unstable. He's been threatening to kill policemen, he's been threatening to kill lots of people and I would say he is the reason Tame Iti has been incarcerated today."
Dave said Tame Iti was his boss in the group, which was made up of Europeans, Maori, Pacific Islanders and Americans. It was open to men and women and had no links to terrorist organisations.
