Call to help with Tame Iti's legal costs

Supporters and Tuhoe  members are being encouraged to help one of their own.

Tuhoe activist Tame Iti was sentenced to 2 and a half years behind bars on  firearms chargers following the 2007 'Anti-terror' raids in Ruatoki.

Local Whakatane radio station One double x  reports more than $345,000 has been spent on Iti's  defence for the recent 'Urewera four' trial.

National Kohunga Reo Trust's CEO Titoki Black from Tuhoe says she was one of the victims when her van was pulled over and searched during the raids.

"My whanau will provide financial support and I  have emailed my contacts and other Tuhoe organisations to help financially  because I feel our Iwi name  has been tarnished" Ms Black said.

National Kohunga Reo Trust's CEO Titoki Black              Photo: Supplied

"In my emails to our whanau and organisations i have said Te Uru Taumatua is asking for help and lets come together as an iwi and help our whanau" Ms Black said.

Tame Iti's Lawyer Russell Fairbrother told  One double x  that he did not know about the email Ms Black was sending around and refused to talk of his clients financial status.

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