KEY POINTS:
Hundreds of protesters have staged a march outside the Rotorua Court House today ahead of Maori activist Tame Iti's court appearance.
They carried signs with slogans such as: "Free Tame" and "NZ Police are terrorists" during the march.
Police closed streets around the courthouse to allow the march, which lasted around 45 minutes this lunchtime, to go ahead.
Protesters chanted "Tuhoe, Tuhoe" and: "Who are the terrorists? Pirihimana [police]. Who are their bosses? Helen Clark."
Iti was arrested during the anti-terror raids earlier this month and is facing firearms charges. He is facing a bail hearing this afternoon.
Police arrested 17 people in the raids and were due to argue in court today for Iti and the other 16 people arrested to all appear in Auckland.
Two others arrested in last week's raids were also due to appear today.
The march was organised at a meeting in Ruatoki earlier this week, a Tuhoe spokeswoman said.
However former chairman of Te Arawa Maori Trust Board Anaru Rangiheuea said the hikoi should be in Tuhoe country, not Rotorua.
"Why the hell don't they stay in their own patch? They should walk up the hills if they want to hikoi. I think they are walking in the wrong area," Mr Rangiheuea said.
Security guards were arranged to help marshal the crowd, which included a large number of children.
Police were not immediately availabe for comment on the march.
- NZ HERALD STAFF, NEWSTALK ZB
