Action Station director Laura O'Connell Rapira says the results are not surprising, and so far ARTs are not being used for high-risk armed situations and events.

"[ARTs] are being used mostly for ordinary routine traffic stops for ordinary people - patrolling brown and low income neighbourhoods."

O'Connell Rapira said the survey was driven by the lack of consultation by Police with Māori and Pasifika communities.

ARTs are sets of three Armed Offenders Squad members with a specialist vehicle equipped and guns. They were deployed last year and are currently being trialed in Counties Manukau, Waikato and Canterbury.

Last month lawyer Julia Whaipooti filed an urgent Waitangi Tribunal claim about the failure of Police to consult with Māori about the ART's pilot.

"Our concern is that arming police is a step into putting into policy... weapons in the arms of police that say our lives don't matter - Māori lives don't matter."

Whaipooti says police are nine times more likely to use guns against Māori and Pasifika people.

The 2007 Urewera Raids and the huge numbers of police used during the peaceful resistance at Ihumātao last year are some recent events which heightened distrust in the police.

"There's a historical distrust from Māori to police and arming an agency that we don't have high trust in that's going to create even more anxiety amongst our people."