A doc that asks asks why and how the raids on New Zealand activists in 2007 took place

Synopsis

On October 15 2007, activists around New Zealand woke to guns in their faces. Black-clad police smashed down doors, dragging families out onto roads and detaining some without food or water. Houses were ransacked and "evidence" confiscated. In the small rural village of Ruatoki, helicopters flew overhead while locals were stopped at roadblocks, their photos taken and their cars searched. Those arrested were interrogated and then imprisoned for four weeks. The War on Terror had arrived in Aotearoa.

Over 300 police raided around 60 houses throughout the country. Operation 8 had involved 18 months of invasive surveillance of Maori sovereignty and peace activists accused of attending terrorist training camps in the Urewera bush - homeland of the Tuhoe people.