The `Urewera Four' could face a retrial, after a jury today failed to reach a decision on whether or not they were members of an organised criminal group.
Veteran Tuhoe activist Tame Iti and Te Rangikaiwhiria Kemara and Emily Bailey were each found guilty of six firearms charges and not guilty of four. Bailey's partner Urs Signer was found guilty of five firearms charges and not guilty of five.
But after 19 hours' deliberating, the jury could not reach a decision on the organised crime group charge.
Crown prosecutor Ross Burns said the Crown would normally go straight to a retrial when a jury fails to reach a verdict.
"However, all cases are decided on their merits.''
He said a decision will be made by the time the case comes back to the High Court at Auckland next month.
Outside court Iti, who the Crown alleged was the leader of the group, spoke only in Te Reo Maori.
He thanked his families of Ngati Maniapoto, Tuhoe and Taranaki and also sent his greetings to all his supporters who came to court.
Signer, wearing a Tuhoe t-shirt which he had been seen in for much of the trial, hugged and kissed supporters.
He had little to say to waiting reporters except "kapai''.
Signer walked up Symonds St with Bailey where once away from the media spotlight, the couple embraced at the traffic lights.
Kemara, who the Crown had alleged was an arms supplier to the group, made no comment as he made his way through a gaggle of reporters.
There were tears in his eyes as he was embraced by numerous supporters, who bundled him into a waiting car and drove him away.
The officer in Charge of the investigation, Detective Inspector Bruce Good, said the investigation started after police received "alarming and concerning'' information.
"We investigated that and put the case together and put it to the court.''
He declined to say what information that was, or whether there would be a retrial.
Mr Good was asked weather the police would do anything differently if they had the chance to turn back the clock.
"That's a decision we would have to thoroughly look at again and do.
"I accept that we went in there and we did it for a purpose. That purpose was to safeguard the community and our staff.''
Iti's lawyer Russell Fairbrother said his client maintains he has done nothing wrong.
Asked about a possible retrial, Mr Fairbrother said Iti was a patient man. "He'll wait 100 years to get this right.''
But he added that his client was pleased with the outcome of the trial.
"What Tuhoe do is very much their business, and I think we've got to stop judging other people by our understandings. This is a country with many, many diverse cultures and many, many ranges of people and we should be able to go about our lawful business,'' he said.
Emily Bailey's lawyer Val Nisbet said the first count was "always going to be a challenge for any jury, and it will remain so.''
"We all hope there isn't a retrial because this has gone on enough, not only for the accused but the whole country. It needs to be put to bed.''
Kemara's lawyer Jeremy Bioletti said the participating in an organised criminal group charge was a "defacto terrorism allegation'' which the Crown had failed to substantiate.
"And the firearms charges were only ever a holding charge that were laid when these people were first charged in October 2007, so I'm very happy with the result.''
