Secret camps allegedly used for military training by Maori radicals were yesterday found deep within New Zealand’s most sacred mountain range.

At least 17 people were arrested and high-velocity weapons seized by armed police using, for the first time, powers granted to them under the country’s antiterror laws. The operation has shocked the nation, which has long believed that its isolation would protect it against terrorism.

Television reports said that a napalm bomb had been tested at one camp and a threat made against Helen Clark, the Prime Minister.

The raids centred on the North Island hamlet of Ruatoki, which is gateway to the Urewera mountains, the home of the reclusive Tuhoe tribe, but there were other operations in Wellington and Christchurch. They followed sightings by hunters in the region of armed men in camouflage at a camp in the Ureweras.

Ms Clark said later that she was aware of police plans but refused to say if she knew of a threat to herself or other politicians. She said that she was “surprised at the scale and numbers of people involved”.

Campaigners from Maori independence, environmental and peace groups were allegedly among those who had trained at the camps. Howard Broad, the Police Commissioner, said: “They are training in the use of firearms and other weapons. I believe this is domestically oriented. I don’t have evidence that there is an international connection to this.”

TV3 reported that police acted after individuals linked to the training camps tested a homemade napalm bomb two weeks ago. Mr Broad did not mention napalm when briefing reporters, but said: “There was a significant risk and I deemed it prudent to act now rather than to allow this risk to continue.”

Among those arrested was Tame Iti, 55, a prominent campaigner for Maori independence. He appeared before Rotorua District Court on eight charges relating to the possession of firearms and petrol bombs.

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