The lawyer for one of those charged following the 2007 police raids over alleged training camps in the Urewera Ranges, says his client died begging him to clear his name.
Tuhoe Lambert was facing firearms and criminal group charges, when he died in July.
Thirteeen of the 17 people he was charged with, have had their cases dropped.
Lawyer Kahungunu Barron-Afeaki says that even though he believes his client would have been among those still facing charges if he were alive, the ruling is still a step towards clearing his name.
He says the charges remain in limbo because the case against Mr Lambert has not been formally dismissed.
