Tuhoe's lawyer predicts long legal fight over raids

Police could have settled Tuhoe people's claim for "peanuts" but it looks as if a protracted legal battle is on the way, says Queen's Counsel Peter Williams.

He is representing 30 people caught up in the October 15 anti-terror raids in Ruatoki. None of the group was arrested but they say their rights were breached. They say people were strip searched, detained in sheds for hours, had mugshot-type pictures taken, their houses were trashed and they were stopped at illegal roadblocks.

At a press conference at an Auckland marae for Tuhoe, Mr Williams said Police Commissioner Howard Broad had ignored a letter which asked for a negotiated settlement.

That process would have included: Appropriate apologies to people abused; police-held photographs being destroyed; items removed from searched homes being returned; evidence that surveillance of Tuhoe had ceased; compensation paid to the iwi in a mutually agreed manner, including to kohanga reo and a school for fear and harm caused.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority confirmed that police had forwarded the letter and said it would be investigated.

Mr Williams would not say how much money would be part of any compensation deal. However, the "pathetic amount" needed was nothing in comparison to police budgets.

"Tuhoe people aren't money grubbers. The matter could have been settled with dignity. What have we come up against? A wall of silence."

The group would be serving writs on the Attorney-General and would start proceedings in the next few months against the police, most likely in the High Court at Rotorua.

Mr Williams said Tuhoe was likely to win.

The effect of the raids on children - 10 of whom had been directly affected - was the basis of the action. Many had developed a "malevolent" attitude towards the police.