Human Rights Commission urges Police to meet with whanau over noho marae search

Reports of a night raid by Police officers from Taranaki on children staying overnight at Stratford’s Whakaahurangi Marae are disturbing says Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy.

“What is clear is that we have some traumatised kids and their whanau wanting to know why they were lined up in the middle of the night in their ancestral wharenui and questioned,” said Dame Susan.

“I’m keen to talk with Police about why this had to happen. I urge the Police in that region to do the right thing and meet as soon as possible with the whanau and children to resolve this issue.”

Dame Susan says with recent incidents of racial stereotyping highlighted in the media it’s critical that families get speedy responses to their questions.

“Thousands of Kiwi kids go on marae trips and school trips every year and this is the first time I’ve heard of youngsters being searched and questioned by Police in the middle of the night. Was it necessary? Was it reasonable? These are fair questions that any parent would want answers to.”

ENDS

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