On Monday, October 15th 2007, more than 300 police carried out dawn raids on dozens of houses all over Aotearoa / New Zealand. Police claim the raids were in response to 'concrete terrorist threats' from indigenous activists. The reality, however, included heavily armed police terrorising an entire township. To date, no evidence of the so-called terrorist plot has been revealed.

Police arrested 17 indigenous, anarchist, environmental and anti-war activists, including people from Tūhoe, Te Atiawa, Maniapoto, Ngā Puhi and Pakeha. Police wanted to charge 12 people under the Terrorism Suppression Act (TSA), however the Solicitor-General denied the police permission to proceed. After four weeks in jail everyone was released on bail. On Tuesday, February 19th 2008, police raided further properties, arresting 3 more men. All were released on bail with strict conditions that same day. A woman was arrested on Thursday April 17th, 2008, and also faces charges under the Arms Act.

20 people are facing charges under the Arms Act, in a trial that could take several years. Although out of jail, they have very strict bail conditions that deny them freedom of movement and association. On this site you can find out how to get involved in local support groups, dates and locations of solidarity events are happening and how to make a donation. The struggle continues…

Links: October 15th Solidarity | Te Mana Motuhake o Tuhoe | AoCafe | Civil Rights Defence | Te Kotahi a Tuhoe | Tūhoe: History of resistance | Tu Kotahi - Freedom Fighting Anthems

Donations for whanau support

• October 15th Solidarity

  Cheques - Please make your cheque payable to 'October 15 Solidarity', and post to October 15 Solidarity, PO Box 9263, Wellington, New Zealand.

  Wire or Transfer Details - Bank: Kiwibank, Account name: October 15 Solidarity, Account Number: 38-9007-0239672-000

  This is a Wellington based group that formed in the immediate aftermath of the raids. It does both support work and political organising. Deposits made with the code "Support" will be dedicated towards supporting all those affected by the raids, arrests and on-going court appearances. We hope that this fund will be administered nationally in the very near future.

• Legal Defence Fund

  Cheques - Please make your cheque payable to 'Peace Action Wellington'
  and post to: 128 Abel Smith St, Wellington.

  Wire or Transfer Details - Bank: BNZ, Account name: Peace Action
  Wellington, Account number: 02 0536 0458570 00, Bank address: Bank of New Zealand, North End Branch, Pastoral House, 100 Lambton Quay, Wellington

  Money donated to this account with the tagline "Legal Defence" will go towards the legal costs of all those still facing charges under the Arms Act. We hope that this fund will be administered nationally in the very near future.

• Te Mana Motuhake o Tuhoe fund:

  Wire or Transfer Details - Bank: BNZ Bank, Account name: Tūhoe Trust, Account number, 02-0488-0170643-00, Bank Address, BNZ Bank, Whakatāne Branch, 181 The Strand, Whakatane.

  The struggle for Te Mana Motuhake ō Tūhoe is the struggle for self-determination of Tūhoe people and sovereignty over their lands. Donations made to the Tūhoe trust support this struggle.

• Rotorua regional fund:

  Cheques - Please make your cheque payable to 'Nga Tai o te Reinga', and post to Nga Tai o te Reinga, 61B Iles Rd, Lynmore, Rotorua.

  Wire or Transfer Details - Bank: Kiwibank, Branch: Te Ngae, Account name: Nga Tai o te Reinga, Account Number: 38-9002-0653401-00, Bank address: Kiwibank Limited, Te Ngae Branch, Te Ngae PostShop, Shop 7, 512 - 518 Te Ngae Road, Rotorua.

• Civil Rights Defence - Auckland:

  Cheques - Please make your cheque payable to 'Global Peace and Justice Auckland', and post to GPJA, PO Box 7175, Wellesley St, Auckland.

  Wire or Transfer Details - Bank: Kiwibank, Account name: Global Peace and Justice Auckland, Account Number: 38-9000-0099726-00. Particulars/Code/Reference: Defence Fund

  Civil Rights Defence is an Auckland based group that formed in the immediate aftermath of the raids. Money donated to Civil Rights Defence goes to their campaigns and also to projects such as bringing people from Ruatoki to Auckland for court.

• Te Kotahi a Tuhoe fund:

  Cheques - Please make your cheque payable to 'Te Kotahi a Tuhoe' and post to: Te Kotahi a Tuhoe, PO Box 47, Taneatua, Whakatane.

  Wire or Transfer Details - Bank: ASB, Account name: Te Kotahi a Tuhoe, Account Number: 12-3253-0032178-50, Bank address: ASB Bank, Whakatane Branch, 202 The Strand, Whakatane or PO Box 682, Whakatane 3158.

  Te Kotahi ā Tūhoe supports Tūhoe who were affected by the raids on October 15th. The worst actions of the police that day were taken against Tūhoe and the community of Ruatoki was terrorised.

  Te Kotahi ā Tūhoe engaged Peter Williams to investigate the police actions at Ruatoki on 15 October, and represent them in claims against the crown arising from those actions. Donations you make would support this work.

Aotearoa IMC Features: Police raid houses across Aotearoa under anti-terrorism legislation, at least a dozen arrests (15 Oct. 07) | 17 activists arrested, denied bail. 300+ Police raid houses across the country (15 Oct. 07) | Solidarity with the Urewera 17! Free them now! (17 Oct. 07) | Stop the Terror Laws! Free our Friends! (19 Oct. 07) | "Raise your voice before you lose your soul" - protests across Aotearoa (20 Oct. 07) | Urewera 17 Update: Bail Denied, Another Police Raid, Another Activist Named, Wellington Activists Moved (26 Oct. 07) | Across the world, people demand freedom for political prisoners! (27 Oct. 07) | Urewera 16 in court - 2 more bailed (2 Nov. 07) | 150 People Protest Labour Conference in Tamaki Makaurau (3 Nov. 07) | Two more prisoners lose name supression (7 Nov. 07) | No terrorism charges for the Urewera 16! (8 Nov. 07) | Tuhoe Hikoi Arrives at Parliament (14 Nov. 07) | The struggle continues… (19 Nov. 07) | Thousands gather in solidarity with October 15th arrestees and against the Terrorism Supression Act (1 Dec. 07) | Tame Iti back in jail for one night (11 Dec. 07) | UN to investigate New Zealand Government over conduct of the Oct 15 raids (26 Jan. 08) | Waitangi Day protests across Aotearoa (6 Feb. 08) | More Raids, 3 More Arrests in Tuhoe (19 Feb. 08) | La Lucha Sigue… Protests against raids and arrests (23 Feb. 08) | 'Operation 8' defendants back in court on March 5th (3 Mar. 2008) | Labour Party conference to be held responsible for Operation 8 (9 April 08) | Labour party humiliated by protest at election congress (12 April 08) | Further 'Operation 8' arrest in Auckland (17 April 08) | Tūhoe freedom fighter in Porirua District Court (1 May 08) | October 15th Solidarity - State Terror court update (21 May 08) | The SIG at it again (7 June 08) | Sign onto the October 15th Solidarity Statement (2 July 08) | SOUL FIRE - a night of dancing in solidarity with those affected by the police "terror raids" (30 July 08) | Ngāi Tūhoe signs Terms of Negotiation (1 Aug. 08) | Operation Eight bail variation denied (15 Aug. 08)