MSD tip-off came from long-time activist

Ira Bailey, a politicial activist who tipped off blogger Keith Ng about file security issues at the ministry of social development, was one of 17 people arrested in the 2007 Urewera terrorism raids.

His identical twin brother Rongomai and older sister Emily were also rounded up in the raids. 

However, a police expert witness said a chemical recipe and instructions found in his flat could be used to create a thermite bomb capable of melting the engine block of a car.

Ira Mangaimimi Timothy Bailey has been a long-time political, environmental and human rights activist, coming from a family where activism was encouraged.

It seems he took his lead from his mother, a teacher and child welfare officer, who was heavily involved in social justice issues.

A descendant of the Parihaka resistance movement, he belonged to the Environmental and Conservation Organisations of New Zealand which protested against the logging of native forests on the West Coast.

He has also worked for Save the Children Fund, Amnesty International, Palestine education and for indigenous communities in Mexico.

At university he studied computer science, philosophy, politics and sociology.

In Wellington he helped set up the Oblong internet café, a non-profit volunteer project which provides cheap access to the internet and audio-visual equipment.

His Linkedin profile indicates he works as an ICT systems administrator at the NZ School of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Twin brother Rongomai Pero Pero Bailey has worked as a graphic designer and assistant cameraman, at one stage working alongside director Vincent Ward on a film about the Tuhoe.

Firearms charges against him were also dropped but older sister Emily and her partner Urs Signer were not so lucky and were sentenced to nine months' home detention for firearms offences.

rvaughan@nbr.co.nz