'I still feel the hurt inside me ... inside my whanau' - Urewera raids still raw for locals 10 years on

October 14, 2017

It's been a decade since armed police swooped on Bay of Plenty locals believed to be involved in military style training camps.

This weekend mark's the 10th anniversary of the now infamous Urewera raids and for many locals targeted, the hurt still remains. 

The raids focused on the activities of a group of people who appeared to be involved in military-style training camps in the Te Urewera Ranges in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Four of those arrested were eventually convicted of firearms charges.

Seven years after the raids, police apologised to the Tuhoe community they had terrorised. 

However, the official apology has carried little weight for some members of the Hillman family, who saw their father hauled away by armed police while they were then ordered to spend the day in their garage. 

"There was no kai for my little brothers," Te Kawerua Hillman told 1 NEWS. 

"They had to go toilet outside the garage door with all the cops around watching."

Te Ahoaho Hillman said he can "still feel the hurt" inside him. 

"I still feel the hurt inside my whanau and from there, I've just been going backwards."

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