Many whānau are angry their young family members have been stopped and photographed by police.
RNZ can now reveal this has happened to rangatahi across the country, after first reporting young Māori were photographed by police in Wairarapa.
A frontline police officer, who did not want to be named, says in an effort to crack-down on youth crime, officers are strongly encouraged to collect intelligence, including photographs, on any young person they see, even if they are not linked to an offence.
They say the information can become useful if the same youth are caught offending in the future.
Sisters Naomi and Charlene Sadlier told Te Aniwa Hurihanganui this happened to their two nephews in Whanganui six years ago.
Police say they have no record of the Whanganui case and they can legally take photographs of young people in limited circumstances, including under the Oranga Tamariki Act.
