The association between organised crime and political parties is hardly new. Politicians and organised crime have done deals from New York to Sicily, from Chicago to Mexico.
Politicians have done deals with gangs because they saw an advantage.
New Zealand has over 10,000 patched gang members and prospects.
In 2022, Police recorded 36,461 people with some form of gang association.
Then there are their families.
The 2023/24 New Zealand Health Survey estimated that 56,000 New Zealanders had used amphetamines, including P, in the previous year.
Research suggests about a third buy directly from gangs.
Since these numbers, wastewater testing reveals that P consumption has more than doubled.
Then there is the money.
Wastewater testing suggests annual retail sales of P exceeding $600 million.
Politics is money, people and votes. Gangs have access to all three.
Commentators who cannot understand why the Greens have not distanced themselves from gangs do not understand MMP.
The Waiariki electorate has one of the highest rates of P use. Te Pati Maori is seeking the electorate vote and the Greens the party vote.
A recent Whakaata Māori–Curia poll showed Rawiri Waititi leading the electorate contest. The Greens polled 21 per cent of the party vote, up from just 6 per cent at the last election.
The politicians’ calculation is not simply how many voters are repelled by an association with gangs, but how many votes might be gained.
Under MMP, a party can outrage most of the country but win an electorate or secure 5 per cent of the party vote.
The gangs can make Te Pati Maori and the Greens the kingmakers.
Do the math.
The Honourable Richard Prebble CBE is a former member of the New Zealand Parliament. Initially a member of the Labour Party, he joined the newly formed ACT New Zealand party under Roger Douglas in 1996, becoming its leader from 1996 to 2004. This article was sourced HERE
In 2022, Police recorded 36,461 people with some form of gang association.
Then there are their families.
The 2023/24 New Zealand Health Survey estimated that 56,000 New Zealanders had used amphetamines, including P, in the previous year.
Research suggests about a third buy directly from gangs.
Since these numbers, wastewater testing reveals that P consumption has more than doubled.
Then there is the money.
Wastewater testing suggests annual retail sales of P exceeding $600 million.
Politics is money, people and votes. Gangs have access to all three.
Commentators who cannot understand why the Greens have not distanced themselves from gangs do not understand MMP.
The Waiariki electorate has one of the highest rates of P use. Te Pati Maori is seeking the electorate vote and the Greens the party vote.
A recent Whakaata Māori–Curia poll showed Rawiri Waititi leading the electorate contest. The Greens polled 21 per cent of the party vote, up from just 6 per cent at the last election.
The politicians’ calculation is not simply how many voters are repelled by an association with gangs, but how many votes might be gained.
Under MMP, a party can outrage most of the country but win an electorate or secure 5 per cent of the party vote.
The gangs can make Te Pati Maori and the Greens the kingmakers.
Do the math.
The Honourable Richard Prebble CBE is a former member of the New Zealand Parliament. Initially a member of the Labour Party, he joined the newly formed ACT New Zealand party under Roger Douglas in 1996, becoming its leader from 1996 to 2004. This article was sourced HERE
2 comments:
Indeed, richard — except in other countries, us, uk, wherever, the gangs put money in a selected politicians campaign.
In new zealand, its the opposite. Politicians pander to the gangs and court their votes with outright bribes in which ‘restore their mana’ means the greens and tpm want to spend taxpayer money on promoting drug supplies, more crime and violence, and no law and order.
It is an ethno-based perversion that can only be found in new zealand.
The number of gang members indicates we have a sick society .
One that is lacking in morality .We do not teach children that a healthy society educates children to acquire education so they can become strong . independent individuals that contribute to society . Not be parasitic on or destructive to society.
Instead we have a rotten education system where Children are not taught with effective methods , hence . with low literacy and numeracy they are condemned to degrading poorly paid jobs. welfare , prison or gangs .
Nineteenth century reformers, discerned that the way to reduce crime was to get everyone well educated in the basics .
Put the blame for the increase in gangs where it belongs - our education which fails to instill discipline , character -building , morality and effective teaching methods .
I am not suggesting this is the complete answer but is one the state should be addressing .
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