Dawn police raid in New Zealand sparks racism charges from Maori

ARMED police stormed into this quiet village at dawn, threw up roadblocks, shot out truck tyres and forced families out of their homes at gunpoint.

The rare show of force, with its dark subscript of terrorism and assassination plans, stunned this nation where beat cops don’t even carry guns. It has sparked charges of racism and inflamed historical resentments.

The October raid was part of a nationwide sweep in which 16 people were arrested and authorities said they shut down military-style camps on Maori ancestral lands where Maori militants and environmental activists trained.