A ministerial promise about the crime-crushing powers of a Firearms Prohibition Order is – let’s be blunt about it – boldly optimistic.
Police Minister Chris Hipkins bragged that “new tools to reduce gun crime” have come into force.
More than that, he promised:
Firearms Prohibition Orders will improve public safety by stopping people whose behaviour and actions represent a high risk of violence from accessing firearms or restricted weapons.
He explained that Firearms Prohibition Orders empower judges to prohibit anyone convicted of firearms-related crimes and other specific crimes, including murder and serious violence offences, from accessing or using guns.
The assurance is given in a press statement posted on the Beehive website headed –
These orders will help Police further reduce firearms violence and make our communities safer, Hipkins said.
“Firearms Prohibition Orders target any violent offenders, including gang members. It gets the balance right between public safety and the right to use and own firearms– by prohibiting people with a history of offending from being near a dangerous weapon.”
Penalties for new breach offences include:
“Firearms Prohibition Orders close a gap in the Arms Act 1983 that might have enabled a high-risk person to legally access firearms,” said Mr Hipkins.
“We have brought in this legislative tool to hold offenders to account and keep our communities safe from the harm which firearms can be caused when in the wrong hands.”
Prohibition is a fascinating concept.
During the Prohibition era in the USA – and in other countries that tried banning liquor – sly-groggers flourished. So did crime generally.
And Point of Order’s veteran writers recall the days when (a) murdering people was prohibited; and (b) murderers were hanged. Murders were committed despite the prohibition and the somewhat stiff penalty.
But maybe Hipkins knows something we don’ know. Let’s wait and see how his new weapon pans out.
His statement was posted on the Beehive website alongside other statements which tell us our hard-working ministers have been –
Minister for the Public Service Chris Hipkins announced the appointment of Ms Rebecca Kitteridge CVO as Deputy Public Service Commissioner.
The Deputy Public Service Commissioner is appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, under the Public Service Act 2020. Subject to the control of the Public Service Commissioner, the Deputy Public Service Commissioner has all the functions, duties and powers of the Commissioner.
Ms Kitteridge is currently the Director-General of Security and Chief Executive of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service. From 2008 to 2014, Ms Kitteridge was the Secretary of the Cabinet and Clerk of the Executive Council.
Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods is splashing out $2.14 million in government co-funding on 11 new transport projects.
These include “clever solutions” for electric vehicle charging, ways to cut fuel costs in heavy freight, and the first marine project to get co-funding from a government trough handsomely labelled the Low Emission Transport Fund.
This is the third round of servings from the fund so the successful applicants can trial new ways of slashing emissions in the transport sector, in areas that were previously considered hard to decarbonise
Woods cited the example of Core Technology: it was chosen to pilot electric outboard motors including ‘handbag’, ‘briefcase’, and ‘carry-on’ sized batteries for use on small watercraft so boat owners can test out what works best for them. The pilot will be based at marinas within the Northland and North Auckland areas.
Freight and transport management companies Findatruckload and iCOS LIVE, will partner to identify “empty legs” – when trucks return empty. This will allow them to increase revenue, and significantly reduce wasted fuel. It’s a win win.
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, ahi kā from Tāmaki Makaurau will run a car share service using a community app with chargers, three EV cars, and an EV van for whānau in the local community to have accessible and affordable transport without needing to run an expensive private car.
Red Phase Technologies will work with Z Energy and Powerco to integrate a super high-speed charger at a Waiouru site, using technology that will reduce the impact on the grid.
Jump Charging will build a portable skid-mounted 75kW DC rapid charging station that can be installed in locations that require temporary increases in EV charging demand such as special events or emergency situations.
Organisations were able to apply for up to 50% of the cost of projects that met specific objectives, for instance, projects that would demonstrate replicability, overcome significant barriers within sectors, or encourage innovative approaches to smart charging and/or vehicle use.
Housing Minister Megan Woods announced a step forward with the government’s plan to increase housing supply and affordability in Wellington in places with good access to public transport.
Can places with good access to public transport be found in Wellington, where bus services have become notoriously unreliable?
On Monday, for example, Wellington bus operator Tranzurban could find drivers to ferry cruise passengers into the city on a day it cancelled 72 commuter bus services.
Never mind.
Woods says her government has moved another step forward following the acquisition of a 2,016m2 section of land on Adelaide Road in Mount Cook, as part of a Kāinga Ora urban development programme.
“Early estimates show the site could deliver up to 280 homes and for the New Zealanders who live at 28 Adelaide Road, there will be many benefits. It is close to the hospital, jobs, education, public transport, and within close proximity to lots of amenities.”
And when the bus doesn’t come, you can walk to work.
This lofty speech was delivered by Climate Change Minister James Shaw in response to the request from the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC at the start of the COP27 Conference to show evidence of how New Zealand has started to implement the decisions collectively made in Glasgow this time last year.
Point of Order notes:
We have started set aside US $3 billion of revenue from our cap-and-trade scheme to recycle into the transition to a net-zero future.
Some of that revenue we are co-investing with private enterprise to bring forward large scale capital investments to decarbonise industry and energy.
Some of that revenue we have dedicated to reducing methane and nitrous oxide emissions from the farming sector.
We have introduced vehicle emissions standards and incentives. As a result, electric vehicle sales have risen from 1% of all new cars sold five years ago, to 5% of all new cars sold a year ago, to now 30% of all new cars sold in the last few months.
And so on…
Readers keen to learn what James Shaw claims has been accomplished can go HERE to savour the full speech.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
He explained that Firearms Prohibition Orders empower judges to prohibit anyone convicted of firearms-related crimes and other specific crimes, including murder and serious violence offences, from accessing or using guns.
The assurance is given in a press statement posted on the Beehive website headed –
These orders will help Police further reduce firearms violence and make our communities safer, Hipkins said.
“Firearms Prohibition Orders target any violent offenders, including gang members. It gets the balance right between public safety and the right to use and own firearms– by prohibiting people with a history of offending from being near a dangerous weapon.”
Penalties for new breach offences include:
- Up to two years imprisonment, if a person breaches a condition of the order, for example resides in a location where there is firearms, or visits a prohibited location such as a gun shop.
- Up to five years imprisonment if a person is found in possession or control of a firearm.
- Up to seven years imprisonment if the firearm was a prohibited firearm, such as military style semi-automatic weapons.
- Up to five years imprisonment, or up to seven years imprisonment if the firearm was a prohibited firearm, for knowingly supplying a firearm to a person subject to a firearm prohibition order.
“We have brought in this legislative tool to hold offenders to account and keep our communities safe from the harm which firearms can be caused when in the wrong hands.”
Prohibition is a fascinating concept.
During the Prohibition era in the USA – and in other countries that tried banning liquor – sly-groggers flourished. So did crime generally.
And Point of Order’s veteran writers recall the days when (a) murdering people was prohibited; and (b) murderers were hanged. Murders were committed despite the prohibition and the somewhat stiff penalty.
But maybe Hipkins knows something we don’ know. Let’s wait and see how his new weapon pans out.
His statement was posted on the Beehive website alongside other statements which tell us our hard-working ministers have been –
Minister for the Public Service Chris Hipkins announced the appointment of Ms Rebecca Kitteridge CVO as Deputy Public Service Commissioner.
The Deputy Public Service Commissioner is appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, under the Public Service Act 2020. Subject to the control of the Public Service Commissioner, the Deputy Public Service Commissioner has all the functions, duties and powers of the Commissioner.
Ms Kitteridge is currently the Director-General of Security and Chief Executive of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service. From 2008 to 2014, Ms Kitteridge was the Secretary of the Cabinet and Clerk of the Executive Council.
Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods is splashing out $2.14 million in government co-funding on 11 new transport projects.
These include “clever solutions” for electric vehicle charging, ways to cut fuel costs in heavy freight, and the first marine project to get co-funding from a government trough handsomely labelled the Low Emission Transport Fund.
This is the third round of servings from the fund so the successful applicants can trial new ways of slashing emissions in the transport sector, in areas that were previously considered hard to decarbonise
Woods cited the example of Core Technology: it was chosen to pilot electric outboard motors including ‘handbag’, ‘briefcase’, and ‘carry-on’ sized batteries for use on small watercraft so boat owners can test out what works best for them. The pilot will be based at marinas within the Northland and North Auckland areas.
Freight and transport management companies Findatruckload and iCOS LIVE, will partner to identify “empty legs” – when trucks return empty. This will allow them to increase revenue, and significantly reduce wasted fuel. It’s a win win.
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, ahi kā from Tāmaki Makaurau will run a car share service using a community app with chargers, three EV cars, and an EV van for whānau in the local community to have accessible and affordable transport without needing to run an expensive private car.
Red Phase Technologies will work with Z Energy and Powerco to integrate a super high-speed charger at a Waiouru site, using technology that will reduce the impact on the grid.
Jump Charging will build a portable skid-mounted 75kW DC rapid charging station that can be installed in locations that require temporary increases in EV charging demand such as special events or emergency situations.
Organisations were able to apply for up to 50% of the cost of projects that met specific objectives, for instance, projects that would demonstrate replicability, overcome significant barriers within sectors, or encourage innovative approaches to smart charging and/or vehicle use.
Housing Minister Megan Woods announced a step forward with the government’s plan to increase housing supply and affordability in Wellington in places with good access to public transport.
Can places with good access to public transport be found in Wellington, where bus services have become notoriously unreliable?
On Monday, for example, Wellington bus operator Tranzurban could find drivers to ferry cruise passengers into the city on a day it cancelled 72 commuter bus services.
Never mind.
Woods says her government has moved another step forward following the acquisition of a 2,016m2 section of land on Adelaide Road in Mount Cook, as part of a Kāinga Ora urban development programme.
“Early estimates show the site could deliver up to 280 homes and for the New Zealanders who live at 28 Adelaide Road, there will be many benefits. It is close to the hospital, jobs, education, public transport, and within close proximity to lots of amenities.”
And when the bus doesn’t come, you can walk to work.
This lofty speech was delivered by Climate Change Minister James Shaw in response to the request from the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC at the start of the COP27 Conference to show evidence of how New Zealand has started to implement the decisions collectively made in Glasgow this time last year.
Point of Order notes:
We have started set aside US $3 billion of revenue from our cap-and-trade scheme to recycle into the transition to a net-zero future.
Some of that revenue we are co-investing with private enterprise to bring forward large scale capital investments to decarbonise industry and energy.
Some of that revenue we have dedicated to reducing methane and nitrous oxide emissions from the farming sector.
We have introduced vehicle emissions standards and incentives. As a result, electric vehicle sales have risen from 1% of all new cars sold five years ago, to 5% of all new cars sold a year ago, to now 30% of all new cars sold in the last few months.
And so on…
Readers keen to learn what James Shaw claims has been accomplished can go HERE to savour the full speech.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
1 comment:
Where does Shaw get his figres from as according to NZTA the figures for August September October 2022 are = diesel 16940 = petrol 32108 =and ELECTRIC 7155.
Maybe his Maths are like Jacksons Democracy they have changed!!
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