'Scars Run Deep for Tuhoe' The Maori Party Members of Parliament Thursday 8 November 2007
The Maori Party has expressed relief that the horrific experience of the last 25 days has now abated following the
decision of the Solicitor General, David Collins QC, not to proceed with laying any charges under the Terrorism
Suppression legislation.
"The nation has experienced a level of fear and uncertainty which has been unprecedented in modern times" said Dr
Sharples.
The concern of the Maori Party remains with the people of Ruatoki and Tuhoe, and indeed wider across tangata whenua, and
other people who have been targeted by the raids of terror.
"We sat with people from Tuhoe today, and have been profoundly moved by their experience" said Tariana Turia, co-leader
of the Maori Party. "We have heard their pain, felt their state of shock; they have been irrevocably changed by the
events of Black Monday" said Mrs Turia.
"The people have told us that their ability to speak openly with people, their ways of communicating have been affected
by the impact of these raids" said Mrs Turia. "They spoke about children not wanting to learn, adults feeling as if they
were in a state of delayed concussion, as they recall the events of the past three and a half weeks" said Mrs Turia.
"I would suggest that the result of this experience is akin to post-traumatic stress disorder" said Mrs Turia.
"Only those people who know what it is like to have communities traumatised can really understand what it is like to be
the men, women and children of Ruatoki" said Te Ururoa Flavell, Member of Parliament for Waiariki. "How can healing take
place, when we have had no living memory of a reality such as took place in the dawn of 15th October 2007?" said
Flavell.
"We continue to be concerned about this legislation, and who might be next" said Dr Sharples.
What next? "The expectation that we have, is that all of the twelve people who have been detained must be released
forthwith" said Hone Harawira. "We also expect that discussions should be carried out with the people of Ruatoki to
determine the level of resourcing necessary to enable healing to occur for those traumatised; and to repair the
physical, mental and structural damage on their community".
"We also expect to see some major changes in how the police manage operations involving Maori communities. It is our
belief that clear guidelines need to be developed to ensure the involvement of the kaitakawaenga, the police iwi liaison
officers at all stages" said Dr Sharples.
ENDS