MEDIA STATEMENT
Tuesday 5th November 2013
Human Rights Commission report on the Tuhoe Raids
Māori Party MP for Waiariki, Te Ururoa Flavell, has slammed the ridiculous delays by the Human Rights Commission in
releasing its report on how the Tuhoe Raids affected the human rights of victims.
“How long does it take the Commission to make a decision on matters of human rights? The Operation 8 raids were executed
over six years ago. Families were traumatised, and the Commission launched an investigation. Six years later, we still
have no answers,” said Mr Flavell.
“The Commission produced a draft report around three years ago, which they discussed with the whānau affected by police
actions,” he said. “At that time, the police themselves and the Independent Police Conduct Authority were investigating,
and the Commission apparently delayed its report pending completion of legal proceedings.
“In May the IPCA report strongly criticised police actions as unlawful, unwarranted and unreasonable. Clearly the human
rights of those detained, searched and arrested were a live issue, and there was no legal reason preventing the Human
Rights Commission from releasing their report.
“Two months ago we were told the report would be out in two weeks. But still – nothing from the Commission,” said Mr
Flavell.
“You have to ask: are the human rights of Tuhoe people not important to the Commission? Is the Commission hoping the
issue will just go away?
“The only other explanation would seem to be serious incompetence by the Commission, or political concerns about
releasing an embarrassing report.
“So I would like to ask the Commission – can the affected families please see your report; if not why not; and if not
yet, when? Come on, we don’t want to wait another six years,” he said.
ENDS