The jurors deciding the case of the Urewera four must determine whether the group were training a militia or practising bushcraft and learning skills for security work overseas.
The 11 jurors retired this morning to consider their verdicts in the trial of Tame Iti, Urs Signer, Emily Bailey and Te Rangikaiwhiria Kemara st the High Court at Auckland.
The four are accused of being involved in military-style training camps.
They deny charges of possessing guns and belonging to an organised criminal group, with objectives including murder, arson and using guns against the police.
Justice Rodney Hansen took them through the various charges which the Crown must prove beyond reasonable doubt.
"Some have said this trial will go down in history. Maybe it will, maybe it won't.''
He said it is not possible to judge how the trial will be seen in the future.
"It is not a matter that should trouble you or deflect you from your duty.''
Justice Hansen took the jurors through a summary of the closing arguments.
He said that the Crown case was that the group were preparing to commit serious violent offences as a back-up plan to Tuhoe negotiations with the Crown.
They wore balaclavas and practised throwing molotov cocktails and patrolling in the bush with guns.
Kemara's lawyer Jeremy Bioletti said they were learning security skills so young people could get jobs overseas and that there were no violent crimes committed.
Bailey's lawyer Val Nisbet said his client was an activist who had no previous convictions and she "would not hurt a fly''.
Signer's lawyer Chris Stephenson spoke of his client's peaceful character and that he was a man who was trying to immerse himself in Maori culture.
Iti's lawyer Russell Fairbrother said the group was teaching bushcraft skills. He said Iti was an "agent for change'' and that there was no logical reason for Iti to have a Plan B.
Justice Hansen said those matters were for the jurors to decide.
"Maybe there are two worlds as Mr Fairbrother has suggested but there is one law - the law that binds us all and under which you must reach your verdict.''
Justice Hansen said the jurors must also consider the defence evidence of the social and political context of Tuhoe.
The fact that firearms charges against 14 co-accused had been dropped was not a factor in their decisions, he said.
The jurors have taken their notes and evidence books inside the jury room where they will be able to refer to the transcripts of evidence which run to over 1300 pages.
They will also be able to review the footage captured by covert police cameras in the bush.
"You should not feel under any time pressure at all. What you are going to do is very, very important. I hardly need to tell you that.''
