This morning Police Minister Poto Williams and Justice Minister Kris Faafoi announced major plans to crack down on firearm ownership by "high risk criminals", specifically looking at gang members. Lyric spoke to National MP Simeon Brown to get his thoughts on the announcement.
Harry Tam has worked with marginalised communities, particularly gangs, in New Zealand for 40 years. Last week, Alex and Harry discussed the social determinants of these groups.
Last week was Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, New Zealand’s annual celebration of Te Reo Māori.
This is the 49th year that Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori has been celebrated in Aotearoa, three years after the Maori language petition was delivered to Parliament in 1972.
For their weekly catch up with Te Pāti Māori’s Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, Oto spoke to her about the important of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori in platforming reo Māori.
He also spoke to her about gang patch legislation passing into law, and what the party’s thoughts are on this.
Finally, we discussed with her New Zealand supporting the UNGA resolution, calling for Israel to end its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory within 12 months.
Kirsten pays tribute to Nanci Griffith, a singer-songwriter with a memorable voice and songs, who died two days ago at the age of 68. She paved the way for modern women in folk. Nanci Griffith described her own style as "folkabilly". Unforgettable.
This week James talks with Brooke about the recently annouced Northern Pathway and ACT MP, Nicole McKee, reaching out to gangs.
With the Northern Pathway having been announced after the liberate the lane protest, ACT has opposed the move and has asked for a cost benefit analysis.
James also talks with Brooke about Nicole McKee, who critisised minister Jackosn for meeting with gangs, while also planning to meet with them herself.
The National party has rolled a series of new proposals aimed at dealing with violent gangs, if they were to win the 2020 election. They’ve said they want to take a much stronger stance than the current government, promising new laws ranging from banning gang patches to revoking parole for those associated with gangs to the setting up of a new task force, modelled after a prolific New South Wales unit called “Strike Force Raptor”. This is apparently only the beginning of a broader “gang action plan” that National has promised to release by next year. Meanwhile Corrections minister Kelvin Davis called the document a "mishmash of reheated ideas", stating that the focus should be on anyone who breaks the law rather than specific groups. University of Auckland Criminologist Dr Ron Kramer said the proposals were "transparently pathetic", "overblown propaganda", and that they provide no substantive impact on crime. William Boyd spoke with Manukau ward councillor Efeso Collins, who has been outspoken in the past about opening up conversation with gangs as opposed to cracking down on them. William started off by asking him for his input on the new proposals.
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