law in preventing organized threats to public safety and security. The treatment of Māori and Pakeha was also raised and it was suggested that the police would not have employed the same tactics if predominantly Pakeha communities had been involved. 162 Within days the Commission received over 50 enquiries, complaints and expressions of concern. In considering how best to respond the Commission took into account that those arrested would be able to challenge any evidence through the formal court processes and that a complaint mechanism with extensive powers to examine Police files and require evidence, namely the Independent Police Conduct Authority (“IPCA”), was available89. The Commission therefore chose not to investigate the complaints but rather analyse the human rights considerations that arose in the exercise. During this time the Commission maintained contact with Tuhoe and New Zealand Police leadership to ensure that the matter was being resolved in the way we had been advised it would. 163 On 22 May 2013 the IPCA published its report Operation Eight: The Report of the Independent Police Conduct Authority (“the IPCA Report”). The IPCA found that Police had acted unlawfully in establishing road blocks in Taneatua and Ruatoki and in detaining and searching people around New Zealand. The IPCA made a number of recommendations to Police following its investigation, including changes to policy and practice relating to the use of road blocks, the introduction of more general community impact assessments before searches are undertaken in major operations and better planning where children and vulnerable people are involved. The IPCA also recommended that Police re-engage with Tuhoe and take appropriate steps to build bridges with the Ruatoki community. 164 On 27 July 2014 Police Commissioner Mike Bush undertook a series of visits with Tuhoe whanau to deliver a personal apology. In August 2014 the Police Commissioner, accompanied by Māori Leaders, representatives of tribal groups from throughout the country, 90 police officers from the Bay of Plenty District, Iwi liaison officers and the Police Executive, was welcomed onto Te Rewarewa Marae, Ruatoki. 165 The Commission’s human rights analysis concludes that no comprehensive assessment of the impact on innocent people was carried out; and insufficient support was provided to innocent people. The Commission made several recommendations to help ensure negative impacts are minimised in the future:90  an independent agency, possibly the Commission could have usefully been tasked with monitoring the human rights of innocent affected people in the 89 The criminal matters were still before the Courts and the IPCA had not reported at the time this comment was being prepared. 90 A copy of the Commission’s report is available here: http://www.hrc.co.nz/2013/commission-releaseshuman-rights-analysis-of-operation-eight Page 44 of 93 Human Rights Commission submission to the Human Rights Committee in relation to New Zealand’s 6th periodic review under the ICCPR