Media Release
18 February 2002

Does Government Want Gang-Run Ghettos?

The Government’s policy of appeasement to violent gangs is a choice of winning gang votes in the short term over preventing American style gang-run ghettos, according to New Zealand First Leader, Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“We have the bizarre situation of no less than three ministers bending over backwards to aid and abet two violent gangs of organized criminals. The message is loud and clear: if you’re a law breaking Maori then the Government will turn a blind eye to your intimidation and law breaking,” said Mr Peters.

“This Government is more concerned with trying to get Maori votes than in upholding the rule of law and protecting the public from these thugs. Justice is portrayed to be blind, but in this country there are two sets of laws.

“This policy is short sighted and will create areas where the gangs run everything such as South-Central Los Angeles, West Philadelphia or the Bronx before Rudi Guilianni cleaned the gangs out.

“The time for talking is over. The police already have the tools and the legislation to clean these gangs out—what they are lacking is the will from Wellington. It is time they got the support they need,” concluded Mr Peters.

ENDS

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