National needs better lawyers
Written By:
- Date published:
12:06 pm, June 8th, 2022 - 68 comments
Categories: Christopher Luxon, crime, national, police, same old national -
Tags:
The civil war between the Killer Beez and the Tribesman have provided National with the chance of banging the law and order drum. And banging it they are.
This morning Christopher Luxon was reported by Radio New Zealand as follows:
A rivalry between the Tribesmen and Killer Beez gangs has spurred an increase in shootings, up to eight in a single night in Auckland. Luxon said New Zealanders were feeling unsafe.
“It’s another night, another shooting. There’s been 23 shootings in two weeks; violent crime is up 21 percent; gang members are up 40 percent. That’s the reality that New Zealanders are facing.”
He said police did not have the tools they needed to deal with the gangs.
“They want to do the job, they … have the capability to respond to crime, but they don’t have the tools.”
…
He called for the firearm prohibition orders that police wanted in 2017. The government has worked on introducing FPOs but they do not grant warrantless search powers.
“We’ve had two members bills that the government rejected around them, and they give police the powers to actually search our gang members and issue firearm prohibition orders and to seize those illegal guns,” Luxon said.
He said such a tool would allow police to search gang members and gang pads for illegal guns without a warrant.
He clearly has no idea what the current law says because the law already allows this. Section 18 of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 allows for warrantless searches of individuals if a constable has reasonable grounds to suspect that a person is in possession or control of arms and is either in breach of the Arms Act 1983 or because of his physical or mental condition either is incapable of having proper control of the arms or may kill or cause bodily injury to any person. It is not clear if Luxon thinks the law should be even more permissive. Parliament could grant the Police the power to search anyone anywhere at any time but I am not sure this is the sort of country that most of us would then want to live in.
Luxon calling for Firearms Prohibition orders is something that the Government is addressing. The Firearms Prohibition Orders Legislation Bill is currently at Select Committee and was introduced earlier this year. Consultation on the Bill started in January 2020. Interestingly three National speakers talked during the Parliamentary debate about the need for warrantless search powers. I sense a pattern here.
To be frank the talk about expanding powers does not get us very far. The best response to crime is to have a sufficiently resourced police force. Labour’s significant increase in police numbers should be compared to National’s running down of the police numbers particularly compared to the population. At June 30 2017 there were 8,955 constabulary employees. By June 30, 2021 this number had increased to 10,219.
And the primary cause, Australia evicting all of its 501s, is not something this Government, or the previous Government, has control of. Jacinda Ardern will no doubt raise it with Anthony Albanese this week when she visits and the chances of improvement are currently the best they have ever been.
Jarrod Gilbert’s statement deserves repeating:
[S]ociologist and gangs researcher Jarrod Gilbert yesterday said New Zealand had seen this kind of gang crime before.He said people should be wary of politicians promising to lay down the law, particularly when in opposition, adding that legislative change was unlikely to make much of a difference.
Gilbert said solutions needed to target specific problems, rather than targeting the gangs.
We do need to address the causes of crime. National appears instead to just want to stoke up fear for political advantage.
68 comments on “National needs better lawyers ”
- Comments are now closed
- Comments are now closed
CommentsOpinions
Recent Comments
FeedsPartyGovtMedia
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #47 2024
Open access notables Projected increase in the frequency of extremely active Atlantic hurricane seasons, Lopez et al., Science Advances: Future changes to the year-to-year swings between active and inactive North Atlantic tropical cyclone (TC) seasons have received little attention, yet may have great societal implications in areas prone to hurricane ...7 hours ago - Chicken Kiev
Chatting in the supermarket this morning, I found I needed to lunge for the chicken drumsticks.Coping mechanisms: who hasn’t felt a greater need for them lately?When it all gets too much, I turn to demonstrating handy butchery hacks.It wasn’t that she’d said anything wrong, our friend, not at all. We ...10 hours ago - The year is 2024 and it’s 1984
This is written in response to the highly significant open letter from a group of economists that was today addressed to Christopher Luxon. The year is 2024, and it’s 1984. The country is reeling from a record Olympic medal gold haul, while the globe grapples with the choice of the ...11 hours ago - The IPCA has failed
Back in 2022, RNZ took an in-depth look at the "Independent" Police Conduct Authority and its handling of killings by police. These are the most serious test of oversight, and you would expect the police's use of lethal force to receive the most severe scrutiny. But despite the police regularly ...15 hours ago - Thursday 21 November 2024
The Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti arrived at Parliament on Tuesday – the size is being debated but estimates range from 42,000 to 100,000. The Prime Minister is defending not attending due to some of the organisers being affiliated with Te Pāti Māori. The national gang patch ban came into force ...15 hours ago - ‘These budget cuts are counter-productive and make no sense’
I spoke to former Productivity Chair Nana this morning about the letter he and a group of other economists sent to PM Christopher Luxon to urge the Government to urgently suspend cuts to spending and investment for the sake of the economy, struggling businesses and the wellbeing of vulnerable ...16 hours ago - ACT’s Astroturfing & A Co-ordinated Attack on Te Pati Māori
Unity on the Streets / Unity at the TableAfter the Hīkoi, all three right wing Coalition leaders came together to push the idea that the 42,000 - 50,000 + strong Hikoi was somehow less potent and brave, and more illegitimate than the energy and crowd displayed.Prime Minister Christopher Luxon 20-November: ...17 hours ago - Durability of carbon dioxide removal is critical for stabilizing temperatures
This is a re-post from the Climate Brink The world is emitting over 40 gigatons of CO2 per year, contributing to an accelerating warming of the planet. The world needs to cut emissions rapidly to be remotely on track to meet our Paris Agreement goals of limiting warming to well-below 2C, and we ...18 hours ago
- I Love My Leather Jacket
I wear my leather jacket like a great big hugRadiating charm - a living cloak of luckIt's the only concrete link with an absent friendIt's a symbol I can wear 'till we meet againOr it's a weight around my neck while the owner's freeBoth protector and reminder of mortalityIt's a ...19 hours ago - Throwback Thursday: Will “Auckland Transport” Survive?
With Auckland Transport’s future up in the air under Mayor Wayne Brown’s proposed CCO reform, we’ve dug way back into the archives, to unearth this post originally published in March 2010. As you’ll see, many of the debates that were being had when AT was first proposed continue to ...19 hours ago - Economists call on PM to suspend budget cuts for the sake of the economy
Nicola Willis’ budget cuts are under fire from economists for having no clear rationale and worsening the recession. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, November 21: The news at ...19 hours ago
- The end of policing by consent
National has appointed a new police commissioner. And he explicitly rejects policing by consent: Asked if he subscribed to policing by consent, he said he did not. “I don’t talk about policing by consent. I talk about trust and confidence, and it is fundamentally important that the police have ...1 day ago
- The Treaty Principles Bill: A Who’s Who
David Horatio Waterbed SeymourFringe politician and dweeb transformed successfully by ThinkTank money into a well-oiled soundbite robot.Currently programmed to say: Equal rights for all New Zealanders Equal rights for all New Zealanders Equal rights for all New Zealanders Was previously programmed to say:I am a proud libertarian andI am a ...1 day ago - Kinleith mill closure shows need for industrial strategy
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is calling on the Government to deliver an economic and industrial strategy for regional manufacturing, rather than just expressing sympathy for job losses, following the announced closure of Kinleith mill in Tokoroa. “The closure Kinleith mill in Tokoroa is not just devastating for ...2 days ago
- 27% of kids going hungry, up from 21% in a year
One in four Kiwi children live in households where food runs out often or sometimes. Photo: Getty ImagesKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, November 20: The lead: The official annual Health Survey found sharp ...2 days ago - Transport modelling is an illusion
This guest post by Tim Adriaansen, an advocate for accessibility and sustainable transport, originally published on LinkedIn and cross posted here with permission. People prefer cars, right? Probably not. Here’s why. Granted, most people in English-speaking countries use a car to get around. This simple reality underpins our transport ...2 days ago
- Young Maori take over
Neither Wellington nor Parliament has ever seen anything like it before. The Police said there were more than 40,000 but however many there were, yesterday’s Hikoi to Parliament was a monumental event. It was almost three times the Foreshore and Seabed martch of 2004 and many,many times bigger than ...2 days ago - Gordon Campbell On The Hikoi Aftermath
The euphoria from yesterday’s hikoi may be transitory, but is no less valuable for that. It is pretty rare for the left to feel itself to be in the overwhelming majority, and speaking as the voice of the people. Lest that momentum be lost, the organisers will no doubt be ...2 days ago - Sabin 33 #3 – Solar panels generate too much waste and will overwhelm landfills
On November 1, 2024 we announced the publication of 33 rebuttals based on the report "Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles" written by Matthew Eisenson, Jacob Elkin, Andy Fitch, Matthew Ard, Kaya Sittinger & Samuel Lavine and published by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia ...2 days ago
- What’s the time Mr Seymour?
Mr David Seymour crawling up to the ceilingThe sun don't shine the sun don't shine the sun don't shine at allMamma Pappa say you should go to school, I don't know what forNow that I've grown up and seen the world and all its liesSong: Southside of Bombay"Ake, ake, ake" ...2 days ago - Submit to defend te Tiriti!
The Justice Committee has called for submissions on National's racist and constitutionally radical Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill. Submissions can be made at the link above or by post, and are due by Tuesday, 7 January 2025. But I'd get in quick, in case National grows a spine ...2 days ago
- We need to talk about Kevin
All happy families are alike; each unhappy family has a Drunk Uncle Kevin in there somewhere. If your Kevin is anything like the ones I know, he was getting along happily enough without having to think too much about the Treaty Principles Bill apart from bloody good job, onya guys ...2 days ago - The hikoi
Like everyone else (everyone who wasn't there, anyway), I've spent the morning watching the hikoi march on Parliament. The pictures are astounding: parliament grounds and the surrounding streets are full, and there are still people backed up along Lambton Quay. The police are estimating 35,000 people, and that's a floor ...3 days ago
- Why Govt & NZ Inc should boycott & regulate Facebook
3 days ago - How should we talk about change?
A better world isn’t just possible, it’s desirable. And that’s how we should frame a lot of our conversations around making a greater Auckland. As an example take urban climate action. A climate friendly Auckland: Is free from congestion Enables people to travel how they choose Is filled with ...3 days ago
- AMA + Holiday Webworm Merch!
3 days ago - Discount Code for Webworm Merch!
Hi,So there’s a bunch of new stuff on the Webworm store (www.webworm.store) — just in time for the Holidays. Read more ...3 days ago - Trying to defuse the tension
There were urgent moves yesterday at Parliament to try and defuse the tension building up over ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill. The Bill’s author, ACT leader David Seymour, told reporters that he understood the Justice Select Committee met yesterday to discuss how long it should take to consider submissions on the ...3 days ago
- An Irritable NZ Pawn – David Seymour Admits Treaty Principles Bill will clear the way for deve...
3 days ago - Gordon Campbell On The Hikoi Arrival, And Tyler Childers
Politicians like to bang on all about the need to heal society’s racial/economic divisions, but in their actions they’re more keen on stoking those divisions, with the Treaty Principles Bill being the classic example. The Bill seeks to dilute the Crown’s responsibilities to Māori at the same time as it ...3 days ago
- Socially Backwards and Fiscally Forwards: the False Ideological Divide and the “Conservative” Li...
3 days ago - Kaamos: Accepted
I appreciate that A Phuulish Fellow has been fairly quiet recently. That’s a combination of two things – comparatively little in the way of relevant material to discuss (at least until The War of the Rohirrim comes out next month), and my general work on The Secret Non-Fiction Writing Project. ...3 days ago - Here’s how governments could fix their Paris climate commitment failures
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Governments around the world face a conundrum. Virtually none are on track to meet their Paris climate commitments. That includes the United States, which committed to cut its emissions at least 50% below 2005 levels by 2030 but is only on track for 32-43% cuts ...4 days ago
- Unstoppable.
4 days ago - Katherine Trebeck – An Alternative Economic Narrative
The era of neoliberalism has been destructive on so many levels, with a huge growth in wealth and privilege for the one percent. A hollowing out of the state; fraying of the safety net; inadequate government investment in infrastructure; and continued environmental degradation has resulted in damage on a vast ...4 days ago - In a Manner of Speaking
In a manner of speakingI just want to sayThat I could never forget the wayYou told me everythingBy saying nothingOh, give me the wordsGive me the wordsThat tell me nothingOh, give me the wordsGive me the wordsThat tell me everythingSongwriter: Winston TongNext Tuesday, the subscription price for Nick’s Kōrero will ...4 days ago - Monday 18 November 2024
The NZNO have announced a nationwide strike for December over its pay dispute with Health NZ, who have put a 1 per cent cap on pay rises. The Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti and Treaty Principles Bill remain front and centre in the media, with the impacts of the Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke-led ...4 days ago
- Shipley warns Seymour’s bill is ‘inviting civil war’
The divisive Treaty Principles Bill is not just a risk for the National Party, it’s a risk to civil order and unity, warns a National Party grandee. Photo: Getty ImagesKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on ...4 days ago - A clearer network for the City Rail Link?
This post was originally published on Linked In by Nicolas Reid. It is republished here with permission. Auckland is now just a year or so away from having the keystone of its urban rail network complete. As I wrote about here, the City Rail Link will be a literal game changer for ...4 days ago
- National’s support base is wobbling
If ACT leader David Seymour intended the Treaty Principles Bill to drive a wedge into National’s support base, he may well already be succeeding. By midnight on Thursday after the Maori Party haka in Parliament, National MPs were being deluged with emails and messages from their members calling them out ...4 days ago
- 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #46
A listing of 33 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, November 10, 2024 thru Sat, November 16, 2024. Story of the week Our Story of the Week is completely "meta" (no, not that Meta). It's about our exploring how ...4 days ago
- Grifter Eftpos Tamaki at it again
..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Self-appointed “Bishop” and proto-fascist, Brian Tamaki was at it again on 16 November, blocking Auckland’s southern motorway, SH1.This time, the target of his ire wasn’t the Civil Unions Act; covid lock-downs; mask mandates; or ...4 days ago - Rip up a bill, lead a haka are words to live by
I cannot stop grabbing people by the lapels, or shoulders, or similar, and raving at them about the tiny miracles in my ears.I can hear again! There could not be a more satisfied customer in all the world.In a noisy cafe I am even catching words that Karren cannot, she ...5 days ago - Unintended Consequences
Take the baitYou pay the priceIt's much too lateFor good adviceYou know and I know that our good things' throughBecause there's consequences for what we doConsequences for me and youWriters: Kevin Robert Hayes, David Nagier, Bonnie Adele Hayes.Fallout from the first readingOne News began last night by saying that tens ...6 days ago - Thank you, driver!
Today, Saturday 16th of November, is Auckland Transport’s Bus Driver Appreciation Day! Saturday 16 November marks the third annual Auckland Transport (AT) ‘Bus Driver Appreciation Day’, and this year we are encouraging all of New Zealand to thank their driver or let the bus go first if you are in ...6 days ago
- Totally Normal: Holiday Edition
Hi,If I was to accurately sum up my mental state over the week, I’d just say that I got a huge fright from my own shadow.I’d nipped out for an 11pm neighborhood stroll, just to calm down after a day of stress and screens. The Cure and Fazerdaze’s new record ...6 days ago - We Are Not Listening
The current rise of populism challenges the way we think about people’s relationship to the economy.We seem to be entering an era of populism, in which leadership in a democracy is based on preferences of the population which do not seem entirely rational nor serving their longer interests. ...
6 days ago - More lawlessness from National
On Tuesday, sick of government stonewalling, the Waitangi Tribunal issued a rare court order, ordering the Minister of Health to release unredacted documents within 48 hours showing its reasoning for disestablishing Te Aka Whai Ora, the Māori Health Authority. The government's response to the lawful order of a court? Yeah, ...6 days ago
- National’s tyrannical “foreign interference” law
Yesterday, under cover the the biggest political fight of the year, National quietly - covertly, even - introduced anti-foreign interference legislation. The bill is the product of a years-long work-program aimed at countering shit like this and this, and there's unquestionably a need to do something to counter foreign states' ...6 days ago
- The Haka Represents The Best Of Us
A few months ago, I was in an audience watching a Haka-Kapa and as I watched children dance and sing and sway and shout and beat, I couldn’t help but think “The Haka represents the best of us.”Yes, yes - there will be a thousand voices that rush forth to ...7 days ago
- Adding up the climate cost
St Mary’s Bay housing left hanging: Climate risk is systemically underestimated in the climate scenarios used by central banks, and a new report warns 10,000 houses are set to become uninsurable in Aotearoa. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in ...7 days ago
- Auckland chafing at Bishop’s housing intensification orders
One of the major problems the Government has in implementing its ‘going for housing growth’ strategy is that it isn’t giving much funding help to councils. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and ...7 days ago - Friday 15 November 2024
The Treaty Principles Bill continues to dominate political news, with it passing its first reading in the House. Parliament was briefly suspended and Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke suspended for 24 hours after leading a haka that was joined by opposition MPs and the public in the gallery. Willie ...7 days ago
- Weekly Roundup 15-November-2024
Happy Friday, welcome to another round-up of interesting stories about what’s happening in Auckland and other cities. Feel free to add your links in the comments! This post, like all our work, is brought to you by a largely volunteer crew and made possible by generous donations from our readers ...7 days ago
- Are We The Waiting?
And screamingAre we we are, are we we are the waitingAnd screamingAre we we are, are we we are the waitingForget me nots, second thoughts live in isolationHeads or tails and fairy tales in my mindAre we we are, are we we are the waiting unknownThe rage and love, the ...7 days ago - The Hoon around the week to November 15
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate news, including from COP29 this week; on the US Presidential elections, Israel vs Gaza/Iran/Lebanon, Ukraine/Nato vs Russia/North ...7 days ago
- First Tea and Toast, now Milo — why do NZ’s best beverages need so much defending?
Only two months ago, Nicola Willis had to step in to stop Health New Zealand cutting tea and toast for post-birth parents, and now Lester Levy is riding to the rescue with a welcome message for all: our health workers can once again drink Milo, and will no longer need ...1 week ago - Gordon Campbell on the folly of making apologies in a social vacuum.
Day One of the Treaty Principles Bill…and everyone got what they wanted, and did what they liked. Heated words were exchanged. Culturally appropriate acts of outrage were performed. David Seymour got to play the victim card. Willie Jackson got kicked out of class. A comically red-faced Mr Speaker bellowed “Order, ...1 week ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #46 2024
Open access notables Microbial solutions must be deployed against climate catastrophe, Peixoto et al., Nature Communications [comment]: The climate crisis is escalating. A multitude of microbe-based solutions have been proposed, and these technologies hold great promise and could be deployed along with other climate mitigation strategies. However, these solutions have ...1 week ago
- The PM gets some extremely valuable legal advice for free
You can pay a great deal of money for the services of a KC. So just what would some peerless legal writing from 40 or so of them be worth, do you reckon?Priceless, that’s what. It’s not even the half of it, but this is my favourite part of the ...1 week ago - D-day for the government
The government's Treaty Principles Bill is up for its first reading today - bought forward in a rush in a desperate effort to avoid the hikoi which is currently marching on Wellington. But the Prime Minister won’t be there for it – he’s literally running away to Peru! But he ...1 week ago
- 97% of submissions did not want no-cause evictions, Trump chooses a Russian spy for US Intelligence ...
Good morning, and I’m sorry I’ve been away for a couple of days.I’ve been focusing on the Hikoi, and also testing out sentiment on the Treaty Principles Bill. It’s complicated, and the Treaty Principles Bill will be debated in the House today. The Government’s own lawyers have told them the ...1 week ago - Government must vote down ACT Members Bill that would undermine workers’ rights
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is calling on the Government to vote down an ACT Party Members Bill that would undermine workers’ rights by making it easier for employers to fire workers. Last week ACT MP Laura Trask’s Employment Relations (Termination of Employment by Agreement) Amendment Bill was ...1 week ago
- Seymour causes thousands of unjustified absences by forcing kids to fight for their rights instead o...
The State would like to remind you that they are in control. They manage your employment prospects, and can destroy the job market you and yours rely on by mass-cancelling construction projects, cutting funding, and firing a good chunk of our public servants. They wield the mechanisms that provide scrutiny ...1 week ago - The Weight of the World
As the weight of the world Hangs on your shoulders The weight of the world Starts to take over again And over again All that you once loved, now you hate So slowly relearn how to meditate To have and to hold And never let go Can you feel it ...1 week ago - Thursday 14 November 2024
The Treaty Principles Bill is set to have its First Reading in the House today, as the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti continues. More than 40 KCs have written to the Prime Minister and Attorney-General outlining their “grave concerns” about the substance of the Treaty Principles Bill, while an academic and ...1 week ago
- Trump’s return to White House brings the climate’s ‘find out’ phase closer
As we absorb the news of Trump's victory in the US Presidential election, here’s a wrap compiled just before the result of what it might mean for climate action: The UN Secretary General says the prospective departure of the United States would cripple the Paris Agreement, likening it to the ...1 week ago
- Time and Space in the City Centre
Patrick Reynolds is deputy chair of the City Centre Advisory Panel. The header image is from Walthamstow, London The city centre now has a few stretches of street where the space has been repurposed to a people and place focused design from full time traffic use. These are a great ...1 week ago
- An opportunity for a pro-growth tax switch
As the Hikoi against it swells into the tens of thousands, KCs call on National to kill off ACT’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. Photo: Getty ImagesKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, November 14: The ...1 week ago - Dealing to the big Aussie banks
The big question hovering over the Select Committee Inquiry into banking is what the Government will do with its findings. If yesterday’s hearing is anything to go by there is a tidal wave of discontent about the four big Australian Banks crashing through the Committee which may force it to ...1 week ago
- 20 fact briefs published in collaboration with Gigafact!
In April 2024 we announced the (renewed) collaboration between Gigafact and Skeptical Science to create fact briefs, short but credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. Our initial plan had been to publish one fact brief per week on Saturdays but - as happens ...1 week ago
- Instead of axing the HRC, ACT corruptly installed a racist, transphobic “Gay Human Rights Commissi...
On November 5th, the Spinoff published a very interesting article on Stephen Rainbow, the Human Rights Commission’s latest recruitment, and how he came to get the controversial appointment. Naturally because of the excitement of the US election, it’s flown a little below the radar. https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/05-11-2024/i-didnt-get-the-hrc-job-stephen-rainbows-human-rights-commission-appointment-just-got-weirderThe article details evidence of the ...1 week ago - Injustice for torture
Between 1950 and 1993 the New Zealand government tortured and abused up to 250,000 children in residential care facilities. Yesterday, following formal findings from a royal commission, it finally apologised for that abuse. The next step is redress and restitution - compensating the surviving victims for the appalling harm they ...1 week ago
- Voices echo
1 week ago - Hīkoi over the Harbour
Kia mau ra, kia mau raKi te mana motuhakeMe te arohaHold fast, hold fastTo your sovereigntyAnd to love and compassionLyrics: Hīrini Melbourne. “Ngā Iwi E passionately calls for unity among the peoples of the Pacific, a cause deeply cherished by Melbourne himself.”I sat at my desk this morning and thought ...1 week ago
- NZ’s global climate rankings plummet as Govt removes agriculture from ETS
The Government has passed legislation to remove agriculture from the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) while Aotearoa’s reputation on climate action plummets. ...9 hours ago - Failed boot camp experiment must end
As legislation to set up boot camps passed its first reading, the Green Party urged the Government to abandon this failed policy experiment for the good of our rangatahi. ...10 hours ago
- Gender-affirming care must centre evidence and health needs, not political posturing
The Ministry of Health has today released an evidence brief regarding the use of puberty blockers in gender-affirming healthcare, amid moves by the government to limit access. ...10 hours ago
- Release: National doesn’t care about manufacturing
The National Government is walking away from our manufacturing sector with constant reports of closures and job losses. ...12 hours ago - Release: David Parker speech – Piketty, Inequality and Climate Change
David Parker's speech from the University of Auckland's forum on Piketty, Inequality and Climate Change in September 2024. ...12 hours ago
- Release: Youth mental wellbeing no longer a priority for Child Poverty Minister
Louise Upston has revealed her diminished vision for vulnerable youth against a backdrop of snubbed advice, scrapped priorities, shifted goal posts and thousands more children projected to fall into poverty. ...13 hours ago
- Release: National’s lack of climate action taking NZ backwards
National Government’s backward-looking climate policy has seen New Zealand fall seven places on the Climate Change Performance Index to 41 out of 63 countries measured. ...13 hours ago
- Release: Simple reason for drop in emergency housing
When the Government says it has reduced the number of people in emergency housing, what it means is it is stopping people from accessing it in the first place. ...16 hours ago
- Govt’s child wellbeing strategy ‘shallow and shameful’
The Government is turning its back on children by not only weakening child poverty reduction targets, but also removing child mental wellbeing as a priority focus in their Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy. ...17 hours ago
- Release: A historic win for Samoan communities
Labour warmly welcomes the Restoring Samoan Citizenship Bill as it passes its third reading, before becoming law. ...18 hours ago
- Government plan to reinstate live animal exports a “national disgrace”
The Government has taken a giant step backwards by reinstating live animal exports. ...1 day ago
- Pasifika justice as Member’s Bill passes final reading
Teanau Tuiono’s Member’s Bill, the Citizenship (Western Samoa Restoration) Amendment Bill, has passed its third reading and will become law. ...1 day ago
- Release: Minister of Education thinks New Zealand ends at the Bombay Hills
The Minister of Education has shown complete disregard for rural communities and their school bus routes in Question Time today. ...1 day ago
- Economists sound alarm on Government’s slash-and-burn approach
A group of prominent economists has released an open letter to the Government, raising grave concerns about the far-reaching consequences of its fiscal policy. ...1 day ago
- Release: Smoking numbers up under Costello’s watch
National’s repeal of Labour’s smokefree legislation has taken New Zealand further away from achieving a Smokefree 2025 and a smokefree generation. ...2 days ago
- Release: Call for Palestine recognition by NZ, Australian and Canadian MPs
Parliamentarians from Australia, Canada and New Zealand have written an open letter to their respective Prime Ministers calling on them to recognise Palestine. ...2 days ago
- Justice Select Committee opens floor for Treaty Principles submissions
Today, the Justice Select Committee has decided to officially open submissions for the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Power of the people on full display as hīkoi approaches Parliament
Today, Hīkoi mō te Tiriti arrived in Wellington, with thousands gathering to march in unity against the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Hypocrisy as Te Whatu Ora contractor bill balloons
Te Whatu Ora’s bill for contracting and consulting staff has ballooned by nearly 20 percent under the National Government, breaking a promise they made during the election campaign to cut contractors. ...4 days ago
- Release: Growing pressure to scrap Section 7AA Repeal Bill
The newly released Section 7AA Repeal Bill's select committee report is further evidence that the Government should scrap it. ...4 days ago
- Government’s move to monetise access to nature a slippery slope
The Green Party is voicing serious concerns over the Government’s proposal to charge for access to public conservation land, released today. ...7 days ago
- Green Party condemns the passage of Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party condemns the passing of the Treaty Principles Bill at first reading, and is clear that the fight is not over. ...1 week ago
- Stand Up for Te Tiriti
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our country’s founding document. It forms the basis of the relationship between Māori and the Crown – and the Aotearoa New Zealand we live in today. ...1 week ago
- Release: Over 15,000 sign Labour’s open letter to Luxon
As the hīkoi to Parliament continues, Labour has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in a last-ditch attempt to get him to kill the Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Fast Track Bill threatens environment, climate and reputation
The fast-track legislation passing its second reading in Parliament is another step towards environmental ruin. ...1 week ago
- Greens join King’s Counsel in calling for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned
The Prime Minister must answer the call from a group of senior lawyers of the King’s Counsel to abandon the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Chris Hipkins’ apology statement to state and faith-based care survivors
...1 week ago
- Release: Labour formally apologises to state and faith-based care survivors
Labour joins with the Government in unreservedly apologising for the abuse, neglect and trauma including torture in state and faith-based care and for ignoring the voices of survivors for too long. ...1 week ago
- Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care
Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology. ...1 week ago
- Green Party calls for conscience vote on Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Govt move to exclude journalist risks chilling effect
The Green Party is alarmed by the Government’s move to exclude a journalist from covering this week’s apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...2 weeks ago
- Without action, an apology will be empty air
For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Concerns remain over tobacco interference
Concerns about the tobacco industry’s ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Government’s decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...2 weeks ago
- Urgent wake-up call on climate
The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...2 weeks ago
- Green MP’s Meme-ber’s Bill set to save the world
Break out the punchlines and dust off your meme folder: Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill was pulled from the Ballot yesterday. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Winston Peters must apologise
The Deputy Prime Minister should apologise to the public servant he named and blamed for something they did not do, and for misusing the rules of Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.“Cabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...10 hours ago - Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...10 hours ago
- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...11 hours ago
- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...11 hours ago
- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...12 hours ago
- First arrests made under gang patch ban
Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...13 hours ago
- Better support for victims of sexual violence
The Government is proposing two major changes to name suppression laws that will put the views of victims of sexual violence first, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We are committed to restoring law and order and these two proposed changes will help ensure the victims of crime are put at ...14 hours ago
- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
Cabinet has agreed to invite all regions to submit proposals for Regional Deals between central and local government that drive economic growth and deliver the infrastructure our country needs, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. Inviting all regions to propose a Regional Deal that boosts ...14 hours ago
- MSA pilot participant update
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. “I’m saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...15 hours ago
- Attendance rates increase, again
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. “This Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...16 hours ago
- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
Ensuring New Zealand is the best place in the world for children and young people is the vision at the heart of the Government’s new Child and Youth Strategy, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says. “Childhood represents a huge opportunity to set people on a positive path towards living ...19 hours ago
- Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea
The Government is reinstating the trade of livestock exports by sea while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard.“The Government will introduce legislation changes to reinstate the trade, enhance oversight, and strengthen requirements for exporters to identify risks and manage the welfare of ...1 day ago
- Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...2 days ago
- New Zealand’s COP29 National Statement
Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...2 days ago
- Latest Quarterly Investment Report released
The Government has released its second Quarterly Investment Report (QIR) which shows substantial work still to be done by agencies to improve investment reporting and meet the Government’s expectations, Infrastructure and Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “New Zealand has significant infrastructure and investment needs. The Government is determined to get ...2 days ago
- New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced New Zealand will contribute NZ$10 million to the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage while at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. “New Zealand is joining the global effort to address the significant challenge of responding to ...2 days ago
- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight, with tough new laws officially coming into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. “Gang patches will no longer be able to be worn in public. To earn the right to wear a ...2 days ago
- LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils
The Government is welcoming the decision by the Local Government Funding Agency to increase access to financing tools for fast growing councils to support greater investment in critical infrastructure, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.“Communities across the country are facing an infrastructure deficit and significant population growth is projected in ...2 days ago
- Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed
The Government has revealed that over the past three years, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has spent an eyewatering $786 million of taxpayers’ money on road cones and temporary traffic management (TTM), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“When I became Minister, I was surprised to learn that that NZTA did ...2 days ago
- Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal to double
Legislation that will double the financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal from $30,000 to $60,000 has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. “We need to improve court timeliness and access to justice so that Kiwis and get on with their lives. Court delays affect everyone, the ...2 days ago
- Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference
Legislation that will specifically criminalise foreign interference and strengthen espionage offences has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “It is normal and appropriate for states to interact and work to influence one another. This encourages cooperation and can have mutually beneficial outcomes. “However, the reality ...2 days ago
- Significant milestone for Canterbury Road of National Significance
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news that the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board has approved funding towards pre-implementation and early works on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass Road of National Significance (RoNS). “Reaching this significant milestone is a reflection of our Government’s ...2 days ago
- Health survey results to help drive change
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says findings from the annual Health Survey highlight the need to continue driving better health outcomes for New Zealanders. The New Zealand Health Survey is an annual snapshot of key metrics measured from July 2023 – July 2024. Findings released this morning include: In 2023/24, ...3 days ago
- Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025
A renewed effort to get people to quit smoking will build on what has worked to date and target the groups who most need support, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. “The latest New Zealand Health Survey results show the daily smoking rate at 6.9 per cent and we ...3 days ago
- New diplomatic appointments
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced four new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign ...3 days ago
- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced the next steps in the Government’s plan improve the quality of regulation by opening consultation on a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. “New Zealand's low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation,” says Mr Seymour. ...3 days ago
- Red Tape Tipline goes live
Minister for Regulation David Seymour has today announced that the Ministry for Regulation’s Red Tape Tipline is now live. “We want to hear about your red tape horror stories. From today, New Zealanders will have a say on how they are regulated through an online portal,” says Mr Seymour. The ...3 days ago
- Youth Parliament 2025 announced
The Minister for Youth Matt Doocey has today announced the eleventh Youth Parliament will be taking place in 2025. “Youth Parliament offers a unique youth development opportunity to young people from across New Zealand to experience the political process and learn about how government works,” says Mr Doocey. “The two-day ...3 days ago
- Police stats show promising change
After nearly a year in Government, Kiwis have seen significant change across law and order with promising early results shown across some Police statistics, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “In August 2023, I told New Zealanders that if they had not started to see a change in public safety within ...4 days ago
- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Online financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...4 days ago
- Minister to consider 7AA select committee report
Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. “I want to thank the people who made submissions and those who appeared before the committee in ...4 days ago
- Defence Minister to attend ASEAN meeting
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Vientiane, Laos. “We need to take every opportunity to engage with our international partners, given the increasingly unstable geo-political situation,” Ms Collins says. “New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to this ...4 days ago
- Launching the White Ribbon Ride
The Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour, was on hand to wish riders well at the start of the North Island leg of the White Ribbon Ride in Whakatāne this morning. The ride helps mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ...4 days ago
- Construction to begin on next stage of Papakura to Drury
Construction on the next stage of the SH1 Papakura to Drury project will begin early next month, with the contract for works awarded to Fulton Hogan, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. "SH1 Papakura to Drury is a key project that will drive economic growth and productivity, reduce congestion, and enable people ...6 days ago
- NZ signs trade deal with Costa Rica, Iceland and Switzerland
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has signed a pioneering trade agreement that prioritises New Zealand’s sustainable exports at a ceremony during APEC in Peru today. “The Agreement on Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS), between Costa Rica, Iceland, and Switzerland was concluded in July of this year and opens up significant ...6 days ago
- Government and iwi work together on aquaculture
Five new Aquaculture Settlement Areas will help ensure Ngāi Tahu shares in the opportunities aquaculture offers for Southland’s economy, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. “The Aquaculture Settlement Areas (ASAs) I’m announcing today set aside space so the Crown and Ngāi Tahu can assess their potential for aquaculture development. ...7 days ago
- Government launches review to ensure electricity market is fit-for-purpose
The terms of reference for a review of the performance of the electricity market have been released. The review, initiated by the Coalition Government during the power crisis in winter will look at whether current regulations and market design support economic growth and access to reliable and affordable electricity, Energy Minister ...7 days ago
- Speech to Social Investment Hui: Jack and his whānau need our help
Kia ora koutou katoa. Nau mai, haere mai, piki mai. Ki te mihi atu ahau, ki te manwhenua nei, Te Atiawa, Ngāti toa rangatira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Thank you, Andy, for your introduction. Let me acknowledge you as the new Chief Executive of the Social Investment ...7 days ago
- Minister of State for Trade heads to Brisbane for PACER Plus meeting
Minister of State for Trade Nicola Grigg has travelled to Australia to attend the PACER Plus Ministers Meeting in Brisbane. “Trade plays a critical role in driving employment, economic growth, and improving the standards of living in the Pacific Region. The Government is strongly committed to supporting Pacific Island countries ...7 days ago
- Proposals to modernise conservation released
Toitū te taiao – Our environment endures The Government is consulting on proposals to modernise New Zealand’s conservation management system, aiming to protect relevant natural areas while supporting sustainable growth in tourism and regional economies, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. “Today, the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai is ...7 days ago
- Grattan on Friday: Marles plays a defensive bat on nuclear as the government rushes to get though la...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Richard Marles is an ambitious man who hasn’t given up the dream of one day reaching the top job. But, despite being deputy prime minister, his profile is much lower than that of Treasurer Jim ...3 hours ago - NEW POLL: Kiwis Overwhelmingly Support MPs’ Expenses Transparency Law Change
62% of respondents support the extension of the OIA to cover MPs’ spending, compared to just 13% opposed and 24% were unsure. ...5 hours ago - The House: Meanwhile, a week of passing law
The political week has been packed with worthy distractions, but all week Parliament has focused on passing new laws. Here are the highlights. ...5 hours ago - The biggest difference between Hīkoi mō te Tiriti and past hīkoi: More support from non-Māori
Analysis - The diversity of voices during the hīkoi was noticeable - from tangata moana to young immigrants to elderly Pākehā from the South Island. ...6 hours ago
- The House: Samoan citizenship restoration – ‘It means we belong to this land’
When the bill to restore NZ citizenship to some Samoans passed this week, Parliament's galleries were full to the brim with members of the community. ...7 hours ago
- More Delays In Action On Use Of Puberty Blockers With Children
Women’s Rights Party Co-leader Jill Ovens says the Ministry has put New Zealand children at risk by continuing to allow “off-label” prescribing of puberty blockers at far higher rates than other similar countries. ...8 hours ago
- Police Minister adamant he wasn’t aware of gang members training at gun clubs
That is despite two papers from police that raised the matter with him. ...8 hours ago
- Shorten declares himself ‘a proud moderate’, saying Australians ‘in the middle’ shouldn’t ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Bill Shorten has declared himself “a proud moderate” in a valedictory speech declaring parliament has the responsibility to ensure the extremes of left and right do not set the terms of political debate. Shorten, ...9 hours ago
- New ‘best practice’ principles for superannuation products are coming. We asked a panel of exper...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt Garrow, Editorial Web Developer Studio Romantic/Shutterstock We all know how important it is to save enough money for retirement – but what about spending it wisely when we get there? Even for those who have built up a suitable ...9 hours ago
- Government accused of betraying Kiwis’ trust over lack of consultation on live exports
The government has always vowed to reinstate live exports by sea, which was banned by the previous Labour government. ...9 hours ago
- 7 things you can do if you think you sweat too much
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Freeman, Associate Professor of Dermatology, Bond University ERIK Miheyeu/Shutterstock Sweating is our body’s way of cooling down, a bit like an internal air conditioner. When our core temperature rises (because it’s hot outside, or you’re exercising), sweat glands all ...9 hours ago
- Phenergan for under 6s is now banned due to hallucination fears. Here’s what to use instead
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Macquarie University Australia’s drug regulator has issued a safety warning over the medicine Phenergan and related products containing the antihistamine drug promethazine. The Therapeutic Goods Administration said the over-the-counter products should not be given to children ...9 hours ago
- A new stage adaptation of Peter Carey’s Jack Maggs is a delightful homage to theatrical storytelli...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Campbell, Lecturer, Performing Arts, UniSA Creative, University of South Australia Matt Byrne/STCSA Jack Maggs is a delight and a homage to theatrical storytelling in Australia. Based on Peter Carey’s bestselling novel, Jack Maggs follows the ex-convict as he lands ...9 hours ago
- The government has introduced laws for its social media ban. But key details are still missing
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Angus, Professor of Digital Communication, Director of QUT Digital Media Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology Ron Lach/Pexels The federal government today introduced into parliament legislation for its social media ban for people under 16 years. Communications Minister Michelle ...10 hours ago
- Archives NZ, National Library to cut 27 roles
The Department of Internal Affairs wants to bring the two organisations under the joint leadership of the Chief Archivist and National Librarian. ...10 hours ago
- Gang patch ban: Members warn of potential for violence to ‘erupt’ as new laws enforced
"I can't see this lasting unless they have a budget to lock fullas up in jail which I think is absolutely stupid, really it's ludicrous," Ngavii Pekapo, who set up a Mongrel Mob chapter 54 years ago, says. ...10 hours ago
- ACT leader David Seymour raises doubts about Waikato medical school
Government documents show ACT leader David Seymour told the government he was "dissatisfied" with a cost-benefit analysis. ...10 hours ago
- National’s Erica Stanford allegedly calls Labour’s Jan Tinetti a ‘stupid bitchR...
The Education Minister has apologised in Parliament for her remark. ...10 hours ago
- Labour backs new Police Commissioner – but warns against routine arming
The alternative to policing by consent would be a police state, which New Zealanders don't want, the party says. ...12 hours ago
- Youth on boot camp pilot re-offended five weeks after release
Children's Minister Karen Chhour said while it was disappointing, it would naïve to think none of the participants would lapse. ...12 hours ago
- In photos: People of the hīkoi, and why they marched
Hikoi mō Te Tiriti has come to an end, going down in history as the largest march to Parliament in Aotearoa. ...12 hours ago
- ‘Everything is becoming a culture war’: Jon Ronson on conspiracies and cycleways
Ahead of his appearance in Aotearoa, the acclaimed British journalist, podcaster and documentarian talks to Stewart Sowman-Lund about why people are still fascinated by the fringes. The last place I would expect to find Jon Ronson is relaxing in the countryside. The iconic British journalist and writer is best known ...13 hours ago - Kia kaha Lebanon: NZ media only tell half your story of struggle
The United States has vetoed a UN Security Council ceasefire resolution — for the fourth time — in Israel’s war on Gaza, while Hezbollah demands a complete ceasefire and “protection of Lebanon’s sovereignty” in any deal with Israel. Amid the death and devastation, Joe Hendren reflects on his time in ...13 hours ago
- ‘Deserves a Bafta’: After the Party premieres in the UK to five-star reviews
The acclaimed New Zealand drama has just premiered on TV in the United Kingdom, and the five-star reviews are already flowing in. Six months after it was called a “blistering” “tour de force” by Australian critics, and nearly a year since The Spinoff declared it the best drama New Zealand ...13 hours ago
- Drugs are getting cheaper and easier to find in Aotearoa
New Zealanders are drinking and smoking less, but most other recreational drugs are becoming cheaper, more popular and more available, two new reports show. Two significant new surveys about drugs in Aotearoa were released this week, offering a rare insight into New Zealanders’ choice of substances, which ones are becoming ...14 hours ago
- COP29: ‘climate finance’ for the Pacific is mostly loans, saddling small island nations with mor...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Ratuva, Director, Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury Lenora Qereqeretabua, the deputy speaker of Fiji’s Parliament, at the COP29 climate summit. IISD/ENB/Mike Muzurakis, CC BY-SA As this year’s UN climate summit reaches its final stage of negotiations, Pacific ...14 hours ago
- Review: The magic of Wicked and the curse of corporate greed
The new movie musical is undoubtedly a fun watch, but it’s also proof that bigger isn’t always better, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund. Contains minor spoilers for Wicked. There’s no doubt that Wicked is going to be huge. No other pop culture event this year, save from maybe Charli XCX’s Brat, has ...15 hours ago
- Dame Jacinda Ardern to be given United Nations leadership award
She will get the champion for global change award from the United Nations Foundation at a ceremony in New York tomorrow. ...16 hours ago
- NZ will resume live animal exports – to low demand
Analysis: NZ is lifting what was supposed to be a permanent ban on live animal exports. But it’s not the lucrative industry it once was. The post NZ will resume live animal exports – to low demand appeared first on Newsroom. ...16 hours ago - Financial forms of family violence affect one in seven of us – but the law is lagging
There are calls for New Zealand’s Family Violence Act to name economic harm as a standalone type of violence, rather than a subcategory of psychological abuse, to bring it in line with the United Kingdom and Australia. Economic harm – restricting access to, sabotaging or exploiting another person’s financial resources, ...16 hours ago
- Downside Risks To Treasury’s Economic And Fiscal Forecasts
New Zealand is currently running a structural fiscal deficit, with expenditure exceeding revenue. Economic growth falling short of expectations has been making it harder for the Government to bring the books back into balance. ...17 hours ago
- Science continues to exclude Indigenous communities. Fixing this benefits everyone
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jordan Peter Anthony Pitt, Associate Dean of Indigenous Strategy and Services (Faculty of Science), University of Sydney An enduring challenge facing science around the world is how to best include and engage Indigenous communities. In Australia, for example, 0.5% of Indigenous ...18 hours ago
- Why is cricket so popular on the Indian sub-continent?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vaughan Cruickshank, Senior Lecturer in Health and Physical Education, University of Tasmania Cricket originated in England, but has been spread worldwide by British soldiers and settlers in the past few hundred years. It is now the second most popular sport in ...18 hours ago
- Disinformation and deepfakes played a part in the US election. Australia should expect the same
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Renee Barnes, Associate professor of Journalism, University of the Sunshine Coast Mladen Zivkovic/Shutterstock As America takes stock after Donald Trump’s re-election to the presidency, it’s worth highlighting the AI-generated fake photos, videos and audio shared during the campaign. A slew ...18 hours ago
- Is thunderstorm asthma becoming more common?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kira Morgan Hughes, PhD Candidate in Allergy and Asthma, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University When spring arrives, so do warnings about thunderstorm asthma. But a decade ago, most of us hadn’t heard of it. So where did thunderstorm asthma ...18 hours ago
- Overwhelmed by ever more clothing donations, charities are exporting the problem. Local governments ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yassie Samie, Postdoctoral Researcher in Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University anna.spoka/Shutterstock What happens to your clothes after you don’t want them any more? Chances are, you will donate them to op shops run by a charity organisation. There are more ...18 hours ago
- Friendly fire: a nuclear push by allies at COP29 poses a sticky problem for Albanese
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland IndustryAndTravel/Shutterstock Prime Minister Anthony Albanese didn’t see this coming. At the global COP29 climate talks in Baku, the Australian government was indirectly criticised by two allies, the United States and the ...18 hours ago
- Nugget Is Dead brings queer love, multiculturalism and Aussie flair to the Christmas movie formula
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Phoebe Hart, Associate Professor, Film Screen & Animation, Queensland University of Technology Julia Firak Stan’s new Christmas film Nugget is Dead is a colourful production that follows the rules of the seasonal genre film to a tee – with an Aussie ...18 hours ago
- Help Me Hera: Should I cut contact with my ex-stepdad?
My parents are finally getting divorced. So why do I feel like my stepdad’s feelings are still my problem? Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nz Dear Hera My parents recently announced their separation. This in itself isn’t a problem. I’ve already gone through this once before in my early childhood, so ...18 hours ago
- New Zealand Drops In Global Ranking On Climate Action
If the government won’t hold polluters to account, then people will. People are increasingly taking to the streets and the courtrooms, putting their bodies on the line to shut down polluting industries. This will only escalate further unless New ...18 hours ago
The server will be getting hardware changes this evening starting at 10pm NZDT.
The site will be off line for some hours.
Would it be too cynical for me to suggest the more rabid Adern haters would stoke this gun violence going by driving around Auckland popping off a few random shots from time to time.
False flag
ISTR that Ardern has always said that we are not playing tit-for-tat over the 501s, but it really is time that we returned the favour and started deporting miscreant Aussies
If the issue is the causes of crime how come violent crime is increasing when inequality and poverty is supposedly falling?
What other causes of crime might there be, apart from inequality and poverty?
What evidence do you have that these latter are actually falling, 'supposedly'?
“Despite Covid-19 causing the greatest global economic downturn since the Great Depression the Government has delivered reductions in child poverty across all nine measures,” Arden, who is the minister for child poverty reduction, said in a statement.
Over the past four years, this Government’s policies have reduced all nine official measures of child poverty compared to the baseline year. Since coming into Government we have lifted 18,000 children out of material hardship and 43,300 fewer children are in poverty since 2017/18. Our main benefit increases announced in Budget 21 are projected to lift a further 33,000 children out poverty.
Is she right or wrong?
Took a while for Nationals destruction of education to take effect on outcomes.
It will similarly take a while, for an improvement on child poverty, to effect crime rates.
Only in Hosking land does things work instantly.
How long will it take for the crime stats to start dropping? What is the cause/effect time frame?
Show us if there really is a rise, or just a blip in a longer term decline in crime rates, of certain types of crime, accentuated by covid and 501's?
Do you really think a decrease in poverty for children, who are mostly under the age that commit crimes, is going to show up in crime rates, before that cohort gets to an age to commit crimes. Most of the current crop of young criminals, would have been growing up during National's "living in cars'" era. Very youngest are 11 or 12. Most are mid to late teens, early twenties, not 4 1/2.
The effects of reduction in crime policies now, can be expected to start showing in 5 to 20 years.
Show us if there really is a rise,
Done.
"The effects of reduction in crime policies now, can be expected to start showing in 5 to 20 years."
What are these 'reduction in crime' policies you speak of?
Oh, FFS. We've been talking about them.
Well poverty and inequality have been mentioned. If you're suggesting these are the issues that are the cause of crime, and crime won't come down until they are addressed, then you need to have a chat to Poto Williams.
Gosman was the one who suggested poverty and inequality. I asked him the questions. What other causes and where is the evidence?
Ah, things take a long time to have an impact. How long do you reckon a Mother of All Budgets will go 30ish years down the track?
Earlier in the week I came across a pile of stuff from the late 1980s and early 1990 to do with education. I'd suggested that for all the restructuring and upheaval of schooling that was to happen and was happening, that there was one critical question: "How will children's learning be improved?"
(Similarly, some years later when it was decided that there were problems with learning, the question was about whether National Standards was The Answer. Recent international results and the dismay provide a line on whether the hopes were realised.)
So the real biding solutions to the gang problem? Taking their patches off them? It seems the answer to all the cliffs we direct people to is to have more and more ambulances at the bottom. Jesus wept.
I sympathise, Peter.
"What other causes and where is the evidence?"
There are many causes of crime, and the right and left argue across each other in an effort to justify their particular policy prescription. There's also the issue of personal responsibility – to what extent can or should we lay blame for our own bad decisions on society more broadly. In NZ's specific context, I believe gangs are a big factor, as is substance abuse and the totally inadequate way we deal with mental illness. None of this isn’t easy, but we have to admit we have a problem before we can try to solve it.
Show us the stats that violent crime has been increasing.
Crime Snapshot | New Zealand Police
Based on the data from 1 April 2021 through 31 March 2022, violent crime (as defined by the Police) has risen from 30,342 to 31,665 across NZ, a rise of around 4.5%.
For the year ended 31 March 2021, there was increase of 3.3%.
For the year ended 31 March 2020, there was an increase of around 5%.
Despite claims NZ's policing is too 'woke', crime rates are largely static — and even declining (theconversation.com)
The change in rates is not unusual. There have been bigger year on year changes in crime rates in the past.
https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/NZL/new-zealand/crime-rate-statistics
So your response to actual Police data is an opinion piece that looks at data that is 2 years old. Seriously?
PS – Gosman and Incognito specifically referred to ‘violent’ crime, which is the data set I quoted. Nevertheless, you have used data that is well out of date. Total crime for the year to 31 March 2022 was up by nearly 20% (205,752 to 246,657).
Which is relevant to assessing it is a trend, or a blip.
And to show that a 4.5% swing is actually not unusual.
And evidence of an overall longer term decline in crime rates.
Which shows that National’s carefully nurtured BS about “crime out of control” is fiction.
2015 had a 10.5 % increase in the murder homicide rate. From a 7.5% decrease the year before. I betcha National wasn’t going on about “crime out of control” then.
Three consecutive years of increases is not a 'blip'.
Make that 4. In the year to 31 March 2019, violent crime went up 10%.\
Remember this is violent crime. You know, assault, sexual assault, abductions. I'll let some of the victims know you think it's just a blip, I'm sure they'll feel so much better.
What would you tell the victims in 2015? Doesn't matter because it would have embarrassed National?
I'd tell them we need better solutions to crime. The same thing I'd be telling them now.
In reality you wouldn't have given a stuff.
Because like National now, you couldn't care less about crime victims, except as something to attack Labour Greens over.
"In reality you wouldn't have given a stuff."
In reality I have a daughter who has been a recent victim of crime. In reality I volunteer with a community organisation that deals with youth victims of crime. In reality I support solutions that get real results, and far quicker than 'start showing in 5-20 years'.
"In reality" there are buggerrall solutions that are instant.
Which is why those who pretend there can be, are blowing smoke.
As you well know if you have been involved in the area.
By the way my ex apprentices, that were gang based and involved in crime, when they started with us, have been gainfully employed, and on the straight and narrow for years.
What a bit of care and attention can do.
"By the way my ex apprentices, that were gang based and involved in crime, when they started with us, have been gainfully employed, and on the straight and narrow for years."
Yep, I’ve seen the same outcomes in the workplace and on marae. Well done.
Thank you, so informative.
From 1 June 2021 to 31 May 2022, i.e. the most recent 12-month period, violent crime went down from 32,836 to 28,722; it dropped in all 4 categories of violent crime.
https://www.police.govt.nz/crime-snapshot-0
You love to use quote & stats that suit your narrative, don’t you?
https://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/files/publications/crime-at-a-glance-dec2020.pdf
Gosman and you should change your tune before I take the wind out it
You've cherry picked to get the result you wanted. The data set you've nicely cajoled is barely 10 days old. You do know the problem with that, right?
Using consistent year end dates, and not cherry picking, the data shows a steady increase in violent crime:
For the year ended 31 March 2022, violent crime (as defined by the Police) has risen from 30,342 to 31,665 across NZ, a rise of around 4.5%.
For the year ended 31 March 2021, there was increase of 3.3%.
For the year ended 31 March 2020, there was an increase of around 5%.
For the year ended 31 March 2019, there was an increase of 10%.
The wind is coming from you.
Holding a mirror up to you to reflect back your own behaviour of selective quoting and cherry-picking data to suit your narrative but which don’t actually constitute a decent argument (aka variations on a theme). You have been doing this here for a long time, too long.
It is quite common to use the most recent data available. Isn’t it the current meme that violent crime has recently gone up 'explosively' and 'exponentially'? Can’t see it in the data from NZ Police, can you? Perhaps the cops are a little behind on their paperwork and it will filter through next month?
Arguably, it is the most objective to use the most recent period and up to the present day if possible, and it is possible. You failed on that point. You also failed to show the huge fluctuations in the data, which is why carefully selecting the date periods can make such an apparent big difference. Of course, taking your comments at face value one would expect a straight steep line upwards over the last 2.33 years, but the reality is quite different, isn’t it, as is clearly shown in the graph in the link.
You can always try to find other data sets that show what you want to show. If you’re desperate enough. Ironically, I asked Gosman, not you, and you’re letting the air escape.
Your tyres have fully deflated.
You used data from 2020, and from a random month without any longer term historical comparisons. I used data over a succession of years for consistent time periods that shows a clear pattern. I'll leave others to decide who is cherry picking.
Meanwhile:
[deleted]
The graph in the link to NZ Police website covers all 4 categories of violent crime since 1 January 2020. I’ll leave others to decide who is cherry picking and whether crime is increasing as you imply.
Meanwhile, you’re in Pre-Moderation awaiting your retraction and apology.
Gypsy do you know what happens when more police are on the beat? The crime rate goes up. Also when you create new offences, as this Government has, the crime rate goes up.
Incognito has pointed out to you the flaws in your argument. Holding magically to certain data and saying that it is conclusive proof that everything is bad does not wash.
Best to avoid inconvenient data and only talk about the convenient data eh?
…and all crime has risen from 203,813 at March 2018 to 246,657 at March 2022, an increase in 4 years of 21%.
But there's no problem, eh?
(and you do know we’re in 2022, right?)
[Putting words in my mouth now?
Point to my comment under this Post where I said or even implied that there’s no problem with violent crime or even just crime in general in NZ. Or correct & apologise. Or take a week off. You’re in Pre-Moderation until you respond – Incognito]
Mod note
I think your just a bit sensitive at the moment. Completely understandable.
Just hungry, but dinner is almost ready.
Ah, I understand. Enjoy. I didn't ,mean to imply YOU didn't think there was a problem btw. It was a general observation about what seems to me to be the level of denial coming out of government. Still, I'll take my medicine. See you in a week.
Not much of an apology, but I’ll take it anyway because dinner was nice and so is the coffee.
When discussing crime data, or any data for that matter, whether between Government, MSM, or Opposition, or here on TS and when one claims an increase or decrease or whatever, they have to back it up, with links and a commentary + explanation. Disagreeing about a change over time doesn’t mean stating or even believing that there’s no problem. For example, a high baseline with no change is a problem, while a low baseline with no change is much less or no problem at all.
So far, nobody here today has shown conclusively that violent crime in NZ is increasing, at least not over the last 2.33 years since 1 January 2020 according to the NZ Police data that you linked to.
"So far, nobody here today has shown conclusively that violent crime in NZ is increasing, at least not over the last 2.33 years since 1 January 2020 according to the NZ Police data that you linked to."
I’m not quite sure why you’re using 1 January 2020 as a starting point? The link I provided goes back years before that, and the data I listed goes back to 2018.
Edit – I’m curious about the answer to that because it may help explain your other comments.
Why don’t you go to your own link on the NZ Police website, create the graph (Crime type by Month) you want there, starting before 1 Jan 2020, copy it, and paste/post it here? Good luck, because in my experience it doesn’t go back further than 1 Jan 2020 and I’d happily go back further 😉 However, I think that period is a good indication of the violent crimes over recent time and it shows no increase (or decrease) over that period to present day, pretty much, contrary to Gosman’s comment and your claims.
"Why don’t you go to your own link on the NZ Police website, create the graph (Crime type by Month) you want there, starting before 1 Jan 2020, copy it, and paste/post it here? "
The actual data (I never mentioned a graph) is available at the link I provided going back before Jan 2020 (to 2017) by selecting the period beside "reported from"/"to". That's the source of the data I quoted above and it's very easy to access. The graph you're looking at is a monthly rest. You can create any trend you like based on when you start the graph. Start the graph at April 2020 and the graph shows a clear incline, but that too would be misleading.
I quote from the footnote: "Data contained within this report are based on information recorded in the Police dynamic operational database as the 8th of the preceding month. Changes made to source data after this date will not be reflected in this report. For this reason, comparisons between monthly releases should be treated with caution."
One reason for the increase in violent crime was the introduction of strangulation as a new serious offence. Not sure how much impact that has had, but other police reports note as a factor.
what planet do you live on?
The statistical issues have been covered by others – but we know that perception does not always follow reality. Active disinformation is of course rife, and some believe carefully planned through convenient cut-outs like the Taxpayer Union, Counterpoint and others – with National then 'responding' with claims that New Zealanders do not feel safe.
Many will recall similar outcries against the 'surge in burglaries' years ago – an invented crisis is all that is needed . . .
”The civil war between the Killer Beez and the Tribesman have provided National with the chance of banging the law and order drum. And banging it they are.”
That is only part of the story, Mickey. You left out crime in the rest of the country.
''To be frank the talk about expanding powers does not get us very far. The best response to crime is to have a sufficiently resourced police force.''
True.` And I would add a Commissioner who is respected by his front line, and a police minister who is on top of her ministerial role.
''[S]ociologist and gangs researcher Jarrod Gilbert yesterday said New Zealand had seen this kind of gang crime before. Gilbert said solutions needed to target specific problems, rather than targeting the gangs.''
Now, more than ever, is the time to ignore Jarrod Gilbert and people like that perpetual excuse monger, Dennis O'Reilly. That Gilbert believes we have seen this type of gang crime before is disingenuous. We have never seen it on this scale, nor have we seen the crime wave that's garden variety crime and violence.
That said, National deserves the serve they received.
.
Any ideas, Mickey?
Show us the stats.
No need. I don't have any stats, because I don't need them. You are floundering. You don't need stats for everything. Ram raids and shootings nearly ever night, up and down the country. I have lived in this country for most of my life, along with many other people. I know we have never had things this bad.
I nearly observe ''a domestic'' every time I go to the supermarket. That never used to happen. Of course, you want see those incidents registered in official crime figures.
[Show us your stats – Incognito]
Bullshit, Blade. I have lived in this country longer than you have, and I too have read of these things in the sensational press. And there does appear to be a temporary spate. But:
You say, " I have lived in this country for most of my life, along with many other people. I know we have never had things this bad." Me too, and I am calling BULLSHIT. I too go into the supermarket every day, and I have NEVER seen any 'domestic' nearly every time. In fact, I recall none at all.
Many of us in this country are NOT worse off than before. Stop making shit up and pretending to have any concern. You are a troll.
You are making up this rubbish for your silly political purposes. You are full of rubbish. Please go find a better pastime.
''Bullshit, Blade. I have lived in this country longer than you have, and I too have read of these things in the sensational press. And there does appear to be a temporary spate. But: I know we have never had things this bad." Me too, and I am calling BULLSHIT.
''Many of us in this country are NOT worse off than before. Stop making shit up and pretending to have any concern. You are a troll.''
No, I really care about victims. Not criminals or white folk living in nice areas pontificating about things they no nothing about. Although you will note of late, eye witnesses saying'' We have never had this type of thing happen in our neighbourhood before.
Quote:
''Aucklanders are regularly confronted with gun violence, organised crime, and rising gang tensions. One of the country’s top police officers says he’s seeing things escalate like he has never seen before.''
"It's not just here, it's everywhere", said a woman who saw police swarm her neighbourhood after a man was shot dead in West Auckland a day later.''
https://www.1news.co.nz/2021/12/26/gangs-and-guns-seeing-stuff-here-that-you-have-never-seen-before/
''You are making up this rubbish for your silly political purposes. You are full of rubbish. Please go find a better pastime.''
Please stop the rhetoric…rhetoric…rhetoric! The day you post anything as half as good as my post above, may be the day I take you seriously. You are just another blind ideologue who doesn't mind the body count and ruined lives as long as your political beliefs remain intact.
Now, if you will excuse me, I have to reply to Weka before I'm put down for maybe 2months.
From 2005 to 2021 (17 years) there have been a total of 16,816 Firearms-related offences recorded by NZ Police. That means on average 2.7 offences every day. That means some days there won’t be any and other days there may be quite a few. Over the last 17 years.
You can check this for yourself: https://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/files/publications/firearms-information-summary-1apr2022.xlsx.
The first 3 months (I assume) of 2022 don’t show a major increase in recorded Firearms-related offences, but you apparently know something more, so put up or shut up.
AFAIK, ram raids are apparently done mostly by youths under 15 years of age. These are presumably not the ‘501’ deportees from Australia mentioned in the OP who are held responsible for the increase in gang crime. But I don’t know this and you apparently do, so put up or shut up.
I don’t know what happens in your hood and in your supermarket. I live in an ‘interesting’ area and have not noticed a change, but there are definitely all sorts of shit happening, sometimes really bad shit.
The pandemic, other global shit (e.g. Russian invasion), and inflation & cost-of-living increases have been and are taking a huge toll and affecting people’s mental state. This means that more shit happens.
You can argue your opinions, but not your facts. Especially if one can point to stats, for example, that don’t support your assertions or even contradict them.
I am now moderating you.
I told you before, I don't need stats because they aren't reflecting the reality happening in the real world. To have stats means you have to have data input. When you don't have data input and crime isn't reported as is the case at the moment, the stats don't match up.
Case in point:
https://www.justice.govt.nz/about/news-and-media/media-releases/nzs-largest-crime-survey-shows-burglaries-on-the-decline/
As talkback has reported – and you yourself may know one person who hasn't reported a crime- burglaries aren't being reported. In many cases the police don't even turn up according to some callers. So how are these crimes declining. Let's see:
“This unique survey has been running since 2018,” says Tim Hampton. “This drawn on around 23,500 interviews with randomly selected New Zealanders about their experiences of crime. For the first time, we are able to compare the data over three years and we can now see trends in crime.”
So, in other words a random selection and crap shoot. If they had advertised for people who haven't reported a crime I would have no trouble accepting the results if the data showed a decline in crime overall. I don't know the statistical odds of picking up non reported crime in a random sweep and then comparing that data with three random sweeps…and getting a result?
Then there's this.
“The Survey provides us with unique evidence because three quarters of crime incidents are not reported to the Police and therefore not recorded in the administrative data”, says Tim Hampton.''
But it's still a random sweep and I don't know how it is collated. Therefore I stick to what my eyes, talkback and tv tells me. The survey includes people 15 years old and above.
See notes to editor at bottom of the article.
"As talkback has reported".
"As I have seen".
Real "evidence based" sources you have there!
Yep. And backed up.
“The Survey provides us with unique evidence because three quarters of crime incidents are not reported to the Police and therefore not recorded in the administrative data”, says Tim Hampton.''
And to be honest, although that backs up my perceptions and OPINIONS, even I have trouble believing that figure. If true, things are way worse then I have believed.
What about this:
So there were weaknesses with a previous survey. I believe there are weaknesses with latest survey and will not be surprised if it’s tweaked again in the future.
BTW- any reasons debate to be had from you? Of course not – just a sound bite and a little denigration.
Anyone who has been around a while would be cautious about using the statement, “The Survey provides us with unique evidence because three quarters of crime incidents are not reported to the Police and therefore not recorded in the administrative data.” to suggest there has been a significant increase in crime. One doesn't need to think too deeply to realise that since the data has not been collected in the same way by past surveys, to make anything of it is a nonsense. It was also noticeable a number of years ago that the incidence of burglaries increased dramatically when insurance companies would only accept claims when a Police report had been lodged. When writing reports for the Courts at the time, it was notable that property loss claims recorded significant items that the burglars denied having seen, let alone taken. Of course, many people don't bother reporting crimes as their loss, injury or victimisation is hardly worth bothering about. One also has to wonder how much the recent ram raid spate was fuelled by the graphic depictions through the media that would excite any young rebel who wanted a publicity fuelled 15 minutes of fame.
KJT was obviously 'on the money', you – meh.
''Anyone who has been around a while would be cautious about using the statement, “The Survey provides us with unique evidence because three quarters of crime incidents are not reported to the Police and therefore not recorded in the administrative data.''
Correct. Read my comment.
KJT was obviously 'on the money', you – meh.
I was taking you seriously until you wrote that comment. Now I know you wouldn't have a clue if you think KJT was on the money with a troll statement.
Another example of you misunderstanding the data and what they tell you/us. You tend to take the binary position again: if there’s something not quite perfect or absolute with the data and/or the methodology, if there’s any hole or weakness to put the finger on then discard it completely and turn on the radio for talk-back infotainment.
Data-sets are rarely comprehensive (complete) and perfect, not even the Census reaches that unattainable threshold and loft goal. Much social research and data relies of snapshots and well-designed well-conducted surveys and sometimes polls.
Talk-back relies on a handful, at best, hand-picked guests (often with an axe to grind) with generally very little allocated time by a
spring-loadedprimed host/interviewer or panel with an a priori outcome in mind, which is usually to boost the ratings and satisfy some other declared or undeclared agenda.Of course, the NZCVS has to be done on and with a random sample! Otherwise it would skew the data and results! You should accept the data as a good reflection what’s been happening in NZ over that period, which is a decline in burglaries.
Making improvements to the design arguably increases the confidence in the results and in the strength and reliability of the conclusions. None will be absolute or perfect! But they’re heaps better that anecdata, and the rants & reckons of shock-jocks on talk-back. Yet, you prefer the latter because they’re easier on the ear & brain, they make you laugh, and they align with your prejudices and confirm your biases.
You simply want to pick & choose which data you like to believe.
The NZCVS gives a very good idea and estimate of the level of unreported crime, which is part of its design! It means we have a more complete and likely better picture of what’s happening in combination with all the reported data. NB the latter are not a survey or snapshot irrespective of how much they under-report. For example, and as an analogy, the Covid-19 daily new cases are thought to be under-reported, the number of hospitalisations is another and perhaps better indicator even though not all positive patients went to hospital because of Covid, and the number of Covid-related deaths is also less than perfect because it can be very difficult and sometimes even impossible to establish the exact cause(s) of death; dying with Covid is not the same as dying from Covid. Should we collect these data and pay any attention to them and let them help guide us in making (policy) decisions or should we do what you do and trash them in the bin and take our cues from talk-back ‘experts’?
I know what I prefer.
And
https://www.justice.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Publications/Cycle-3-Core-Report-20220224-v1.9.pdf
Lastly, thank you drawing attention to these surveys even without making the case for why should pay attention to them 🙂
''Talk-back relies on a handful, at best, hand-picked guests (often with an axe to grind) with generally very little allocated time by a
spring-loadedprimed host/interviewer or panel with an a priori outcome in mind, which is usually to boost the ratings and satisfy some other declared or undeclared agenda.''Not true from my experience. And it isn't the invited guests that make talkback so potent, its's the random callers, many of them who know something behind the stories currently in the media, or about topics that hive off from the main topic.
Here's an example that's yet to be proven. This goes back about a year ago. Keep it in the back of your mind:
''A lady rang in who CLAIMED to have been a regional manager at the IRD for approximately 15 years. ( I forget the TB topic). She said the IRD is incapable of running major tax audits properly, She said the department was in disarray with many senior investigators gone and their computer system in a mess.''
Here is something I found. Small cheese, or proof of deeper problems?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/128562101/inland-revenue-loses-evidence-in-fraudfromprison-case-leading-to-suppressions
But: from 2017. In support of IRD.
https://thespinoff.co.nz/partner/06-12-2017/tax-cheats-and-how-to-catch-them
''Of course, the NZCVS has to be done on and with a random sample! Otherwise it would skew the data and results! ''
How?
''Should we collect these data and pay any attention to them and let them help guide us in making (policy) decisions or should we do what you do and trash them in the bin and take our cues from talk-back ‘experts’?''
You misunderstand again. There are no talkback experts. Mikey doesn't do talkback. It's the callers who fill in the blanks for me.
We have criminals, ex criminals, crime victims ( reported) Crime victims ( unreported) police officers – serving and RET.
I believe they give me a better global picture of the state of things then reports and stats. However, talk back is never going to dictate government policy. While you and the rest are having fun about my rants regarding TB radio, all I'm doing is giving you a heads up on the medium that is taking the Labour Party apart piece by piece. And worse, towards election time the major leaders get to host their own hour spot on talkback. Will Labour let Jacinda face middle NZ?
''The NZCVS enhances our understanding of that picture by covering both reported and unreported offences. The survey also provides rich information about victims often not available in administrative data sources, such as their ethnicity and whether they have a disability.''
That sounds like talkback radio to me.
You said this:
I quoted this back to you:
Now, can you work out what would happen to the overall picture of crime in NZ if they were to do it your way?
Talk-back is self-selecting, just as an online poll is. It taps into its audience and people like you call in to have their rants heard and their frustrations aired on-air. A scientifically conducted study survey picks a random sample, just as for a political poll, to get the most accurate picture of the whole of the nation. That’s why NZCVS is heaps better than talk-back.
Mod note
I know your application to be police commissioner is in the mail and its been good to see the amount of thought and preparation you have been doing in support of your application. Its been a real study in the right attitude to have applying for an unfamiliar role.
We only hope your job application gets appropriate treatment.
I have never, ever seen a domestic in a supermarket, ever. I've lived in some of the poorest suburbs of Huntly, Hamilton, Whangarei & have been in South Dunedin for the last 20 years.
There was panic in the ODT about gunshots in Concord a few days back, turned out to be a car backfiring.
In one of those "rough" South Auckland shopping malls on Tuesday.
Two very relaxed looking cops, walking around talking to shoppers, in polo shirts and utility belts. A whole bunch of very "unthreatened" looking, mostly brown people. Haven't got the message they should be "terrified of the massive crime wave" obviously!
Not a domestic, gun or even a taser, in sight.
These sort of crimes (the shootings and the ramraids) were very common in Australia, not long ago. Now both Labour and National are talking about going to Australia and asking what they did to keep them under control. The answer will be "deport as many of them as you can to New Zealand".
I wouldn't be surprised if there is a significant correlation between number of 501s and increase in crime numbers.
Of course, NZ deports criminals to island countries which pushes up their crime rates too.
Tough on crime, eye-for-an-eye policies sell well, but have little effect on actual crime and push up the spend on prisons. Spending more on police helps as the criminals don't like getting arrested. The amount of time spent in prison is less of a deterrent than going there in the first place.
Spending more on health and family support will not bring about immediate change, but could make a much bigger difference in the long term. Of course it might be another political party that gets to claim the credit.
True, sad to say. But that is what we need to aim for: the long term.
If Bomber is correct in his view as to the reasons behind this upsurge in gun violence between gangs, then that points to a level of criminality and corruption that indicates a much larger breakdown in policing than anyone previously thought.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2022/06/08/gang-wars-why-heavy-handed-australian-tactics-wont-work-plus-latest-nz-police-failure/