Swift move needed to retain confidence

The Government must move quickly to reassure the public and our trading partners that our borders are secure, Labour’s Customs spokesperson Kris Faafoi said today.

"The massive drugs haul found in a Fonterra shipment that originated from New Zealand has created a global media storm because of its size and its origin.

"New Zealand has a long standing reputation for having secure borders and tight processes to prevent these kinds of situations.

"While this incident is focussed around just one container of the approximately 24 million tonnes of cargo that leave our ports each year, the size, nature of the drug haul and the fact it involves one of our largest exporters – and one that is part of the secure exports scheme - requires a swift investigation.

"Initial reports from Customs suggest that the container may have been intercepted en route to Algeria. Whatever the circumstances Maurice Williams, as the minister in charge, must move swiftly to get to the bottom of where the drugs entered the container.

"We need action to reassure trading partners and the public that our border controls are strong,” said Kris Faafoi.

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Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>