Former Police Commissioner Howard Broad says his biggest regret of the Urewera raids case in 2007 is that the operation looked like it targeted the people of Tuhoe.
He says the raids were actually directed at a much wider group. Police believed they were investigating an organised militia group during the Urewera raids.
Tuhoe wants an apology for the way police treated innocent bystanders.
Mr Broad, who is retired, hopes the police will make an effort to fix their relationship with the iwi and he is happy to be involved if needed.
Seventeen people were initially charged but only four ended up going to trial.
Last Thursday, Tame Iti and Te Rangikaiwhiria Kemara were sentenced in the High Court at Auckland to 2½ years in prison for having firearms and molotov cocktails at camps in the Urewera ranges.
Urs Signer and Emily Bailey have informally been sentenced to nine months. Their case was adjourned to assess whether the term can be served at home.
Iti is now appealing against his conviction and sentence.
