Police say they did not identify any particular targets of the people they were monitoring in the Ureweras and elsewhere before they carried out raids in 2007.

Police Commissioner Peter Marshall told Television New Zealand's Q+A programme that there was no particular target or targets identified.

Previous reports indicated Prime Minister John Key was a potential target.

But asked about this Mr Marshall said: "Not that I'm specifically aware of".

On Thursday Justice Rodney Hansen jailed Tuhoe activist Tama Iti and Te Rangikaiwhiria Kemara in the High Court at Auckland for two and a half years on six charges of unlawful use of a firearm.

Urs Signer and Emily Bailey, who Justice Hansen said were followers rather than leaders, had their sentencing adjourned so home detention can be considered.

A jury earlier found them guilty of some firearms charges, not guilty of others, and was unable to decide if they participated in an organised criminal group.

Mr Marshall told Q+A of growing alarm among police in the weeks leading up to the raids, sparked by incidents including a dismantled firearm being sent to Wellington, talk of explosives, a sniper rifle and death threats.

While police did not know of particular targets, discussions about creating mayhem around the country were not "just idle talk", he said.

"It's a matter of balance. Do we actually wait until something happens, the unthinkable happens? And then, of course, you can imagine the commentary then. Or do we, at an appropriate time, take action because we need to take action."

Mr Marshall again rejected a "wholesale" apology to the people of Ruatoki, saying police had nothing to apologise for.

However, he was happy to apologise to innocent individuals, families and a community who were frightened and inconvenienced.