WELLINGTON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - New Zealand police staged new raids and arrested more people on Tuesday in a crackdown on camps where training in firearms and other weapons was being given, and were weighing whether to bring charges under anti-terrorism law.
Those arrested include environmental, social, and indigenous Maori activists, who had allegedly attended the military style training camps.
A total of 17 people have been detained thus far on various charges, including possession of illegal firearms and weapons.
None have been charged with any breach of the country's never-used anti-terrorism law, but that was under consideration, police said.
Most of the suspects remained in custody although one activist, Jamie Lockett, was given bail despite police opposition.
Police told the court they had recordings of Lockett saying he was training to be "a vicious, dangerous commando", that he was "declaring war on this country very soon", and that "white men are going to die in this country".
The camps were based in rugged and mountainous country in the isolated eastern part of the North Island, the home of a strongly independent Maori tribe.
Firearms and reportedly a napalm bomb or molotov cocktails were seized in the raids, which followed a year-long police investigation.
The New Zealand Herald newspaper quoted unnamed sources who had attended the camps as saying the training had included wearing camouflage clothing, moving through forests carrying heavy packs, and the use of firearms.
But it also reported one man involved in running the camps saying they had been about improving fitness.
"It's not a Maori activist bunch of people. We are there for fitness, we are there for education, we are there for mental health and we are there for the long-term goals of New Zealanders," the paper quoted the man, identified only as "Dave".
Police have said charges may be laid under the country's anti-terrorism law, which has a provision protecting domestic political activities.
"This is not about targeting legitimate protest at all," said Assistant Commissioner Jon White on Radio New Zealand.
Any terrorism-related charges would have to be approved by the country's highest law official, the Solicitor General.
New Zealand, a South Pacific nation of 4.2 million people, has no history of domestic-related terrorism, although Maori, who make up around 15 percent of the population, have at times staged high-profile demonstrations and land occupations to highlight and gain redress for historic grievances.
woohoo 17 people