Operation 8 unfinished business.

Operation 8 was ten years ago. There were opportunities missed. Firstly the opportunity to challenge the Crowns jurisdiction over the Ureweras and Tuhoe was not taken up. In Canada indigenous tribes charged with breaking the gambling Laws challenged Ottawas jurisdiction. The trial was the longest legal case in Canadian History and an important milestone in Canadian Treaty jurisprudence. That opportunity was sitting right there to be taken. The case reached the Canadian Supreme Court R v Pamajewon. Could a challenge have been mounted as to the effect of the Arms Act within the Ureweras. I am certain it could have. Unfortunately such a concept was too much for some. I regret not going on a solo mission. The other issue that did not surface but which should have was the involvement of NZ intelligence agencies in the Operation. The level of technology used in the bugging of some participants was such that it could only have been provided by agencies further on up the line. The SIS certainly but further up the GCSB and external agencies. America was in the process of exporting its Terrorism legislation around the western world. I am certain that the GCSB spied on New Zealand born targets in Operation 8. It is an issue that will only be sorted out by a public inquiry. If it did occurr the trial would never have taken place as all evidence would have been thrown out. The illegality in the case extended far beyond the Police. It is a source of shame to the Labout Party which will never be expunged that they allowed Operation 8 to occur. I remember  cross-examining the NZ Army Boss in Iraq at the trial. After I finished another trial counsel said to me "I wouldn't have had the balls to do that'. I do believe the Crown regretted calling that particular witness. 

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