The following is a exact copy of a letter sent to our national government back in 1st December 2011. The hard copy letter sent using actual envelopes & stamps would have arrived within 24 hours to our National capital, the letter read....
Honorary Prime Minister Mr John Key,
I would like to congratulate you and your National Party on your recent win. There is no doubt that you are the preferred Political leader of our country.
I am writing in regards to the 2007 New Zealand Police & O.D.E.S.C.S 'Anti-Terror raids' imposed on the Bay of Plenty tribe and people of Tuhoe.
To utilize 300 members of the Armed defenders and anti-Terror Squad on a small rural township was no doubt excessive. Reports of early morning raids on families dressed in pajama's, children on a school bus have done nothing to strengthen & heal the relationship between Pakeha* & Maoridom.
We all know that Tuhoe have justified historical grievances with the New Zealand Crown, and there will always be Māori people classified as extremists who wish to have their mana reinstated and returned. This is simply the return of dignity, to people who wish to be identified as equals in a country their forefathers have lived in for centuries. We also have to consider the long-term psychological effects that these raids have had on the children of Tuhoe.
Mr Howard Broad, in his last years final press conference, implied that the people of Tuhoe would possibly get a formal apology from the New Zealand Police in regards to these terror raids.
Perhaps the New Zealand Government & New Zealand Police would consider a formal apology to the people of Tuhoe. It’s been a while now since these raids had taken place. An apology costs nothing. It would be a good gesture for all New Zealanders and a great start for the coming year for your government. With kind regards,
Ben King Te Haenga
Minister of Police Judith Collins.
Minister of Justice Simon Power & Prime Minister John Key
( These are the 3 government Departments that received this letter )
* Pakeha - is a name given to colonizers, generally of Caucasian, English European descent.