More arrests in Urewera firearms inquiry

A police roadblock in action in the Ruatoki Valley during the October raids. Photo / Alan Gibson

Three more men have been arrested for firearms offences in the Bay of Plenty area targeted in last year's anti-terrorism raids.

Police said the arrests involved two men aged 44 and 46 from Maketu and a 24-year-old Ruatoki man.

Officers had "arrested three people as part of the ongoing investigation into firearms offences in the Bay of Plenty area".

They are due to appear in the Tauranga and Whakatane district courts.

A police statement issued today said: "In October last year sixteen people were arrested and charged with unlawful possession of firearms in the Ruatoki and Western Bay of Plenty area. The three arrested will appear in court today facing the same type of charges.

"The investigation team has and will continue to focus on bringing these matters before the court. There will be no further comment from police."

Police spokeswoman Angeline Barlow said the Armed Offenders Squad were not used and roads were not closed during this morning's arrests.

Those arrested last year were dubbed the "Urewera 16" and the use of terrorism powers and heavily armed police sparked claims of heavy-handed treatment which would damage race relations.

Te Kotahi a Tuhoe Trust chairman Tamati Kruger told Radio New Zealand that today's arrests felt like further persecution of Tuhoe.

But he has been assisting the police, he said.

- NZ HERALD STAFF