Podcasts about police minister stuart nash

You just never know who's going to ring up when the talkback lines open. Turns out former Police Minister Stuart Nash has been following the NZR governance story closely, and he's got some thoughts on the decision the unions have made. He phoned up D'Arcy Waldegrave on Sportstalk to air his views. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

D'Arcy Waldegrave returns to recap an exciting week in the world of sports! Highlights for tonight include:  Rugby Players' Association CEO Rob Nicol on the governance vote. Talkback on this featuring, among others, former Police Minister Stuart Nash who thinks the Provincial Unions have made the wrong decision. Auckland FC coach Steve Corica on his first four players. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When I heard that former Police Minister Stuart Nash was spilling the beans on what happened when he tried to get a zero limit on how much property gang members could keep if it was the result of illegal activity, I thought he should pull his head in.  Because, call me old fashioned, my thinking is that once someone has retired from politics, they should keep the skeletons to themselves.  But am I glad he's done what he's done, because it shows that Chris Hipkins is exactly what people on the left accuse Christopher Luxon of being, which is a manager, not a leader.  If someone wants to do something, managers tell them to go and talk to the relevant person in charge. And they rely on the advice of that particular person in charge.   And, in this case, Hipkins relied on what Kiri Allan said, didn't dispute it, and put Stuart Nash in his place.   The even bigger revelation, though, is that it proves what people have been saying for a while now - that Labour went soft when it came to dealing with gangs.  So, a bit of background.  In March last year, the Labour government passed legislation which says if people involved with organised criminal groups can't prove to a court that they've bought assets using legitimate money, anything valued at $30,000 or more can be seized by the police.  But Stuart Nash, as police minister, didn't want the $30,000 limit. He thought there should be a zero limit. Because, as he says, you can buy a Harley Davidson for under $30,000 which means —as it stands— the gang guys get to hold onto them.  He also reckons that's what the cops wanted too. And still do.  So, he went to Hipkins and said he wanted a zero limit. Hipkins told Nash he needed to go and talk to Kiri Allan, because she was Justice Minister at the time.   But, according to Nash, she wasn't up for it. One of the reasons being, that targeting gangs was anti-Māori.  Which is nonsense.  But, as Nash said on Newstalk ZB this morning, Chris Hipkins misjudged the public's appetite for cracking down on gangs. And Labour paid the ultimate price.  He also said that, if Labour doesn't realise how much it's cocked-up on this one, it can forget about getting back into government anytime soon.  What do you think? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newsroom reported on its website yesterday that targets or output measures for issues such as the time taken for police to respond to traffic emergencies and burglaries have been dramatically adjusted. Police have twice as long to get to emergency events in urban areas, 45 minutes in town, 60 minutes in rural areas, and they are required to respond to fewer burglaries within 48 hours. In a briefing from police provided to then Police Minister Stuart Nash, the Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming said demands on the force had grown, therefore the targets needed to be readjusted. The time taken to attend emergency events in urban areas 90 percent of the time has been increased to less than 45 minutes because last year's target of 20 to 25 minutes wasn't met. For rural events, the measure was increased to less than 60 minutes from 45 minutes last year. Last year's standard was that 98 percent of burglaries would be attended by police within 48 hours. This year, that's been reduced to greater than 85 per cent. Police dubbed the previous standard aspirational. Police have been warning demand is outstripping their resources with increased mental health and family violence callouts alongside emerging crimes such as cyber-crime taking up far more time. As well, there are easier and more diverse ways to report crime, but it really is the mental health and the family violence that's taking up police time as the Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming told Tim Dower this morning. Honestly, when you think of the waste of money and the opportunities lost and the flow and effect - as Jevon McSkimming said - of police having to deal with it because there hasn't been an increase in the workforce to enable the burden of assisting those with mental health conditions to be spread across many more shoulders. We had the lovely young woman who rang and who said she can only take Maori and Pasifika patients now, and those under 18, because there aren't enough counsellors available for the need - and even if you wanted to go private, you couldn't because there aren't any private ones as well.  I am not going to be bashing the police for having to reconsider their response times. If anybody thinks for one wild second that the response times haven't been met because the police have had their feet up on the table, back at base eating doughnuts, watching Netflix, you are delusional. These men and women are working every hour God sent doing their job, doing this job of social workers, doing the job of mental health counsellors, doing the job of bloody parents who are woefully failing their own children. So anybody who wants to put the boot into police for failing to meet their target times, don't ring me.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Newstalk ZB's Tim Beveridge joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! The Ministry of Education planned to hire 82 attendance officers as part of their Centralised Attendance Service. The deadline is under two months away, yet they've only hired 7 truancy officers. Do you think this goal is realistic? Does the Ministry of Education care about truancy? The much-anticipated Gore District Council showdown was today- no-one moved the motion of a no-confidence vote, despite the lack of confidence in mayor Ben Bell. Will the Council give away any specifics as to why Ben Bell was asked to step down? Chris Luxon's popularity is still in decline, according to the latest round of polls. Why is this the case? Will National write Luxon off this close to the election? A text message between former Police Minister Stuart Nash and Police Commissioner Andrew Coster stressed the need for more police resources in Hawke's Bay following Cyclone Gabrielle, despite public claims from Chris Hipkins stating crime wasn't an issue. What do we think of this? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, it's been a week since I was last on ZB, and last Monday we were talking law and order and what really needs to happen. But of course in the week since, the former Police Minister Stuart Nash has had a spectacular meltdown and we now have our 5th Police Minister in 5 years. In fact, it's our 10th in 14 years. Police would like the revolving door to stop spinning so fast, but that's not in their control. But the funny thing I noticed about Stuart Nash's supposed crime is how little anybody really cared. In fact, one woman questioned by telly over the weekend said the classic line: he was just saying what everybody is thinking. The people who were most vocal about Nashie's misbehaviour were the opposition MPs. Particularly Mark Mitchell and David Seymour. "A flagrant overreach of ministerial authority and an instantly sackable offence" they chanted in unison. What Stuart Nash did was suggest what the police should do operationally. The Cabinet manual for all parties forbids this. It also forbids instructing the judiciary. These are facts that the opposition choose to ignore when they spin their "the Government is soft on crime" line. Operationally the police and the judiciary will be exactly the same no matter what the government. And last week the talkback also seemed to ignore was is really possible. We had suggestions of trucking offenders off to other countries and overseas detention camps. International Law Courts might have something to say about that, I said. Callers wanting judges to be told to increase their sentences. Can't do that they're independent. Mark Mitchell even phoned and said what was needed was more wrap around services, which is exactly Labour's line, and military academies. Which he told me were already operating well in Whenuapai and elsewhere. Now I can find no mention of military academies for offenders anywhere in New Zealand. The closest is Vanguard school, which is a special character school which started as a charter school. It's one that requires a voluntary choice by parents and kids who are committed to a change. And the thing that Defence Forces have told me is that they don't want feral, foetal alcohol affected, life time crims to rehabilitate. And towards the end of the conversations, a caller texted me and said you've dismissed all our ideas, what are yours? I guess the first thing I'd do is support the police more. Having talkback callers parrot an opposition line that police have no respect anymore damages only the police and empowers the crims.   I'd insist on a standard ratio of police numbers to population. An idea and target floated in 2022 but still being missed. The problem is churn. We're employing new police, but they're not replacing the police who have had enough and are leaving the force. So I would up the numbers of new police. And like everyone, I'd like to toe rags identified early and interventions put in place. Policing and crime is not simple and the soft on crime rhetoric helps no-one. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's First Up pod - we go to the US as the military releases footage of Russian jets downing that drone over the Black Sea; the ACT party wants for Police Minister Stuart Nash stripped of all his portfolios; what fruit will rise to the top to be Fruit of the Week and whilst Coromandel businesses worry visitors will stay away for the Easter break due to the fragility of the region's roads, some residents say they're packing up and moving away for good. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

The Police Association says Police Minister Stuart Nash had to resign, but will be sorely missed. Nash is gone after revealing on The Mike Hosking Breakfast on Newstalk ZB that two years ago, he asked the Police Commissioner to appeal a judge's sentencing. Megan Woods will take over the police portfolio for the time being. Police Association President Chris Cahill told Mike Hosking having to see Nash go is disappointing. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In what appears to be a clear breach of the Ministerial handbook Police Minister Stuart Nash has fallen on his sword, before it was used on him by the PM, after comments this morning on radio about how he asked the Police Commissioner if he was going to appeal a sentence for a man breaching firearms laws. Police had admitted today that they have been under counting ram raids due to what appears to be a clerical error. National is using this as a weapon against Labour in their 'soft on crime' narrative but whatever the reason, this is another thing that doesn't help Labour in the crime narrative. We have some advice for Zoomers and Millennials who send nudes tonight. If that's you. make sure you tune in. Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of #BHN https://www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter. @patbrittenden @Chewie_NZ

Chris Hipkins is determined to laugh off the resignation of Police Minister Stuart Nash. Nash has been forced to resign, after revealing on yesterday's Mike Hosking Breakfast, that two years ago he asked the Police Commissioner to appeal a judge's sentencing. The Prime Minister joked about the news during a speech to kiwifruit growers last night saying a "minor reshuffle" is coming, but he'd rather not mention the reason why. But this morning, Act Leader David Seymour told Tim Dower there was nothing funny about Nash's actions. He says the right way for politicians to address concerns about a sentencing is to pass laws that require tougher sentences. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police are investigating at least two burglaries in Auckland overnight - including at a large supermarket in the suburb of Lynfield. Officers were called to Countdown Lynfield, on Hillsborough Rd, shortly before 1am after reports of a break-in.  “A group of offenders have taken multiple items before fleeing from the scene in a vehicle,” a police spokeswoman said. “Police are following positive lines of inquiry to locate those responsible.” A staff member told the Herald they had looked at the security footage and said those involved were youth. There were up to nine people spotted on camera, the worker said. Thieves smashed their way into the Countdown Lynfield supermarket, in Auckland, in the early hours of this morning. Photo / Hayden Woodward Early this morning, police officers could be seen assessing the damage inside the supermarket. Several windows - including at the entrance doors - had been smashed and glass littered the ground inside and outside. It is not yet known exactly what was taken. But cigarette roller packets were spotted on the ground at one of the counters. ‘I don't want to do this job anymore' Police are also looking into a ram raid incident at a liquor store in Wairau Valley. Authorities were called to the Harbour City Liquor Centre, on View Rd, about 2.30am after reports that a vehicle had been used to smash into the store. Police were called to a reported ram-raid incident in Wairau Valley overnight. Photo Hayden Woodward The shocked owner said at the scene: “I honestly don't want to do this job anymore. This is my second ram raid. “Auckland has gone very, very bad.” Police said at this stage, their inquiries are ongoing and are working to determine who is responsible. ‘It starts with shoplifting...and before you know it, you're shipping meth' - Police Minister Police Minister Stuart Nash spoke to Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking this morning about crime in New Zealand - and specifically about gang activity. He talked about retail crime as well, acknowledging that it was a big problem. Police Minister Stuart Nash. Photo / NZME “It all starts somewhere - it starts with shoplifting, starts with theft and then you end up in a gang and before you know it, you're shipping meth.  “That's not always the track...but it can be and so it's the reason why we're putting a whole lot of effort and resource into going after the gangs.” On gangs, Nash said: “We are going really, really hard against the gangs. “Every single tool we can use, every man and every woman is going hard against the gangs because we do not want these people doing their dastardly crimes in our community.” He said the gangs were, by and large, responsible for the meth distribution in New Zealand - the reason they were going so hard against them, he reiterated. Can you help? Anyone with information that can help Police with their investigations is urged to contact authorities immediately via 105 or CrimeStoppers Anonymous on 0800 555 111See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police are investigating at least two burglaries in Auckland overnight - including at a large supermarket in the suburb of Lynfield. Officers were called to Countdown Lynfield, on Hillsborough Rd, shortly before 1am after reports of a break-in.  “A group of offenders have taken multiple items before fleeing from the scene in a vehicle,” a police spokeswoman said. “Police are following positive lines of inquiry to locate those responsible.” A staff member told the Herald they had looked at the security footage and said those involved were youth. There were up to nine people spotted on camera, the worker said. Thieves smashed their way into the Countdown Lynfield supermarket, in Auckland, in the early hours of this morning. Photo / Hayden Woodward Early this morning, police officers could be seen assessing the damage inside the supermarket. Several windows - including at the entrance doors - had been smashed and glass littered the ground inside and outside. It is not yet known exactly what was taken. But cigarette roller packets were spotted on the ground at one of the counters. ‘I don't want to do this job anymore' Police are also looking into a ram raid incident at a liquor store in Wairau Valley. Authorities were called to the Harbour City Liquor Centre, on View Rd, about 2.30am after reports that a vehicle had been used to smash into the store. Police were called to a reported ram-raid incident in Wairau Valley overnight. Photo Hayden Woodward The shocked owner said at the scene: “I honestly don't want to do this job anymore. This is my second ram raid. “Auckland has gone very, very bad.” Police said at this stage, their inquiries are ongoing and are working to determine who is responsible. ‘It starts with shoplifting...and before you know it, you're shipping meth' - Police Minister Police Minister Stuart Nash spoke to Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking this morning about crime in New Zealand - and specifically about gang activity. He talked about retail crime as well, acknowledging that it was a big problem. Police Minister Stuart Nash. Photo / NZME “It all starts somewhere - it starts with shoplifting, starts with theft and then you end up in a gang and before you know it, you're shipping meth.  “That's not always the track...but it can be and so it's the reason why we're putting a whole lot of effort and resource into going after the gangs.” On gangs, Nash said: “We are going really, really hard against the gangs. “Every single tool we can use, every man and every woman is going hard against the gangs because we do not want these people doing their dastardly crimes in our community.” He said the gangs were, by and large, responsible for the meth distribution in New Zealand - the reason they were going so hard against them, he reiterated. Can you help? Anyone with information that can help Police with their investigations is urged to contact authorities immediately via 105 or CrimeStoppers Anonymous on 0800 555 111See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police Minister Stuart Nash says, when it comes to sentences for gang members, judges in our courts need to "read the room better". Comments, I think, are just as relevant to other cases. Such as the one which wound up in the High Court in Christchurch yesterday with 18-year-old Khanye Te HeuHeu being sent to prison for five-and-a-half years for killing 16-year-old Zion Purukamu at a birthday party at an Airbnb property in Fendalton. A crime, by the way, that this guy has apparently shown no remorse for and a crime he only admitted to after the original charge of murder was downgraded to manslaughter. He had denied the murder charge, because he says what he did was in self-defence. I'm not sure how stabbing someone in the back is self-defence, but there you go. So the sentencing judge was already limited in what she could do yesterday because, despite the fact that a 16-year-old went out to a birthday party in August 2021 and never came home because some guy at the party got angry with him and stabbed him to death, the judge had to limit the sentence to one appropriate for manslaughter. But, boy, did she get it wrong. In my eyes anyway. I've commented before about jail sentences and there have been a couple recent of cases, in particular, where I've thought that the judge did the right thing and the wrong thing. One of them was the prison sentence handed down to the young guy who was responsible for that terrible car crash near Timaru where five teenagers died. One of them was in the boot. That guy got two-and-a-half years and, at the time, I said that I thought the judge had done the right thing and the wrong thing. I felt it was the right thing to send him to prison because of the fact that his stupidity had cost five people their lives. But I felt it was the wrong thing too, because what good would come of him being locked inside with other crims? And this sentencing in the High Court in Christchurch yesterday is another one of those cases where I could say that the judge did the right thing and the wrong thing. The judge certainly did the right thing sending him to prison. But we could also say, couldn't we, that she did the wrong thing because sending an 18-year-old to prison for five-and-a-half-years is probably also going to sentence them to a lifetime. But when someone walks out the door on a Friday night with a knife in their pocket, they lose all sympathy from me. And so, in this case, the judge did the right thing sending him to prison - but where she went wrong, was sending him away for just for just five-and-a-half years. Because he went to that party with a knife. His intent was clear that night. I know he probably didn't go to the party planning to kill someone, but he went there that night thinking that if anyone gives him trouble, they'll get it. And that's what happened. As reported from court yesterday, the victim Zion Purukamu confronted Te HeuHeu about kissing a girl that Zion and his friends considered to be too intoxicated to know what she was doing and so they asked Te HeuHeu to leave. He took exception to that, he refused to leave, and a fight broke out. The fight continued in the driveway and that was when Te HeuHeu pulled a knife from his clothing and stabbed Zion. He also stabbed two of Zion's mates. Thankfully, they survived. But it was a different story, though, for Zion and his family - some of whom spoke at the sentencing yesterday and who were extremely upset when the judge said she was imposing the five-and-a-half year sentence. The Crown's starting point for sentencing was 12 years but the judge, taking into account Te HeuHeu's age at the time of the offending (he was 16), his guilty plea and elements of his upbringing and background, settled on the five-and-a-half years. The background stuff the judge was referring to was the lack of contact Te HeuHeu had with his father during his formative years, the impact of having a stepfather and half-siblings join the family, his connection with the local Black Power gang which he had been prospecting for, and his use of methamphetamine. So a starting point of 12 years, take all those things into account, and you settle on a five-and-a-half year sentence. But when someone gets that level of sentence for killing someone with a knife and stabbing two other people, in my honest opinion they have got away with the proverbial murder.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The trash talks started, but there's no fight on the cards. National MP Mark Mitchell is disappointed Police Minister Stuart Nash won't go head-to-head with him in a charity boxing match. Mitchell has challenged Nash to join him in the ring at the Fight for Life event to raise money for mental health support in Hawke's Bay. But the Napier MP isn't biting - saying he's too busy to train and Mark Mitchell should be relieved. Our political reporter Anneke Smith has more.

There's a big disconnect happening at the moment between government and locals in the Hawkes Bay area over what's really going on.  The Police Commissioner and the PM were both on Mike's show yesterday saying the reports of looting are just not true, that it's all the stuff of rumour and gossip, and that it's unsubstantiated. But then you have the locals. They're irate, arguably more irate after hearing the denial of it from government, and saying it is very real, it is definitely happening and they're traumatized by it.  One Esk Valley local said if the Police Commissioner doesn't think it's happening how about he come down and do a night patrol with him and see it for himself. Others have said they're watching the looting, crimes and theft unfold right in front of them. We know of people so scared they've left town. So which is it? I'd argue you have to believe the people at the coal face surely? Those on the ground, living it, feeling it, surely they're the ones we have to take seriously not government officials who pop on some high vis and do a whistle stop tour through an area flanked by hangers on. Is that really a realistic picture of what's actually happening?   Hipkins reckons the media rolling into town with all their cameras has hyped things up too. Insinuating that the media are looking for drama, there may be a bit much disaster porn going on yes, that's probably fair, but, the truth also is that the media are capturing things the government would rather they weren't. They are talking to more people, they are getting deeper into communities and they are not towing the party line.  And what we do know of this government is that it likes to be the only narrative on any story. It likes to be the pulpit of truth and dish out the messaging, it probably doesn't appreciate some independent journalism being done around the place. But this denial of any issue smacks of a Jacinda-type approach; rejecting the assertion of everything.  That didn't go so well for her, it became farcical, and so I wonder why Hipkins would go down the same track. Rejecting people's truths as fiction is not a good look. If they're experiencing it how can it not be true?  Just because a bureaucrat in an office somewhere doesn't have an official report of it on paper, does that mean it's not real? No. It smacks of the PPE scandal all over again.. and the RAT tests.. and the flu jabs.. remember all that? Oh yes plenty of those, we were told, they're everywhere we've got heaps and yet we had GP after GP after GP, day after day telling us they had none, there was a massive shortage and the government was peddling bollocks.  So we have a trust issue here. Do we believe the Government's official line – that crime is down, there is no looting, as true? Or do we believe the increasingly frustrated locals?  And don't forget the mixed messages we're getting here too from government. Police Minister Stuart Nash asking gangs to ‘pull their heads in'. Justice Minister Kiri Allan, calling on thieves to ‘get their act together' all the while the PM and the Commissioner saying ‘nothing to see here, there is no crime.' So which is it?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins is getting credit for his handling of the cyclone and I think that's fair enough. Newly into the role of PM and he's had to hit the ground running —literally— with a crisis. To be fair though, in the immediate aftermath of a disaster an elected leader does get a free kick. All you have to do is be present and visible, have a ton of empathy and own the communication around the media updates. Labour did this during Covid, and now they're doing it again.  But —and here's the rub— that halo effect can fade as failings in the response from public and private entities start to surface. The longer there's no power or access, the worse the looting and the gangs get, then the worse this whole thing gets for the government.  People have an enormous amount of scope, patience and understanding in the direct aftermath – but the longer it goes on, the more that patience fades. Add to that, contributory negligence like bureaucrats squabbling over whose responsible – Council arguing with Waka Kotahi, local government arguing with central government, private agencies scrapping with public ones and it gets even worse.  So up until now, this phase of the response is right over Labour's home plate - visibility, empathy, a lot of media noise, reactions and promises aplenty. But the next phase is its Achilles heel: delivery and accountability. Will they do what they say they're going to do? Can they deliver it? Will they step up on what they can do at a central government level? Will they be honest about what they can't?  Today's impressive response is tomorrow's Kiwibuild, or child poverty, or mental health, or vaccine rollout or MIQ management. Looking good up front and saying all the right things is one thing, getting it right after the fact is another. The honeymoon phase Labour's been basking in with its new leader and a fresh immediate crisis to respond to is fading. So how long before the issues that have plagued this government and its inability to deliver are laid bare once again? How much listening to people is being done or not done?  Locals in Hawkes Bay being ransacked by looters and gangs will tell you they don't really feel listened to. They're crying out for more police. The Police Minister says he's sending in an extra 145. As Act pointed out, that's a fraction of the 600 extra cops they sent into the protest on Parliament's lawn. Where're the military many are asking.  This is a time for decisive strong leadership – for putting words into action. But the PM says there is no law-and-order crisis. Is he gaslighting locals? Telling them what they're seeing and experiencing isn't real? Trust and confidence is starting to wane as Police Minister Stuart Nash himself said.  It's ripe time for action, for good bold decisive leadership. For getting tangible outcomes for beleaguered communities right now. The advantage is already Labour's, but the execution from here will be what counts for them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the number of robberies of dairies, and the killing of shopkeeper Janak Patel last week, small business owners are taking extraordinary steps to keep themselves safe. We visited one which is about as secure as they come, Cedar Park Superette in Auckland's Wattle Downs. It's where former Police Minister Stuart Nash chose to launch a $1.9 million initiative to double the number of fog cannons in small businesses back in 2020. First Up producer Matthew Theunissen caught up with owner Uday Patel and found that the dairy's now the Fort Knox of suburban retail.  

The police want greater powers for dealing with terrorism, more in line with the United Kingdom's prevention model. Senior officers joined Police Minister Stuart Nash in a meeting with the head of the UK's Home Office in December last year, and discussed counter terrorism policing. RNZ has been told police here would like to adopt some of Britain's terrorism laws. Ben Strang reports.

Police Minister Stuart Nash has said that systemic racism is not a problem in New Zealand police - but there may be issues with unconscious bias. We chat to Jacqui Maguire, a registered clinical psycholgist.

Police said in a statement given to us last night that the Armed Offenders Squad and Special Tactics Group would continue to carry sponge rounds, and the weapons are under consideration as part the force's "broad tactical capability". We also asked the Police Minister Stuart Nash about the potential to expand the use of the weapons and was told in a statement that "no such proposal is in front of the Minister, and he would expect to be consulted if there was such a proposal in the future".  Police Commissioner Andrew Coster speaks to Corin Dann.

A new step forward in policing has taken to Canterbury skies.The Eagle helicopter is being trialled for five weeks during which time it'll target fleeing drivers, become a swifter response to call outs and be available for deployment around the South Island.Police Minister Stuart Nash says it's 21st century policing."As our roads become more congested, as our bad guys become badder, as they use more powerful tools, we need to keep pace."It's the first time one's been based in the South Island.Police Commissioner Mike Bush told Chris Lynch the rising number of fatal police pursuits was one of the driving factors behind the trial."Your not going to get away; regardless of whether its minutes, hours or days, you will be held to account."He says the success of the trial will be judged by a number of criteria."That's how much crime we actually prevent, how many incidents they respond to, how many people we support in the apprehension, but mostly how effective it is for our staff on the ground and the communities we're here to serve."

COMMENTGangs have always been a political football but I'm wondering whether the old live and let live approach, exhibited by so many these days, is actually working when it comes to gangs.You can't argue with the numbers, and the numbers say they're on the rise.New figures In October last year, showed the total number of patched gang members had increased by 26 per cent over two years. That's almost 1400 new gang members.And what've we seen this week?Well, we've got two incidents within two days involving guns.A shotgun pellet fired by a gang member, almost struck a child in a carseat in Taradale. That was during a brawl of about 30 to 40 gang members in a downtown street.The other incident was a drive-by shooting in Ruatoria.What's concerning about this - and I don't mean a child almost getting shot, and innocent people in danger - I mean what's irritating about gangs brawling, is that they seem to be doing it more frequently these days. And in public places.Police have a couple of theories: One, that there're an increasing number of younger members in gangs who perhaps don't have the same level of respect for the elder members; or two, with the increased numbers, the gang leaders don't have as much control as they used to.Gang tensions have continued to escalate in recent months. Police say they're "investigating a number of serious incidents and outbreaks of violence in public places".Why though? Why are members of the public having to bear witness to this kind of madness?Why are children sitting car seats in the main street of a town all of a sudden in danger?Why are gangs being allowed to run rogue around town, without anyone closing them down before it gets to the guns and bullets? How do they even still have shotguns?So why isn't more being done about it?Police Minister Stuart Nash was quick to point out the Government is increasing police numbers, and they've seized 1500 illegal firearms already. But the problem with the approach to gangs is an attitude I reckon.You have to want to fix it, or want to eradicate them.And when we have community groups who say, "oh, gangs are no problem, there's actually some good people in gangs" then we are diluting their danger.Opposition leader Simon Bridges and his strike force raptors idea was mocked, and maybe that is too far in the other direction, but to give gangs the impression they can have free reign over public spaces in townships around New Zealand is setting yourself up for tragedy.There needs to be a stronger deterrent, a stronger disincentive.Because, until we take the dangers of gangs seriously, we can't expect public brawls to abate any time soon.

A special police unit to tackle gangs akin to the Strike Force Raptor team in Australia has been given the cold shoulder by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.The unit for New Zealand police was pushed strongly by the National Party as one of the main proposals in its law and order discussion document, released yesterday.National leader Simon Bridges said the unit would be modelled on the Strike Force Raptor force in New South Wales, which handled all gang-related incidents.It could check for liquor licences if booze was served at a gang pad, inspect tax records for welfare fraud, take away drivers' licences if traffic fines were unpaid, and use council rules to shut down gang clubhouses for shoddy workmanship or unconsented work.The Raptor team also enforced a law that made it illegal for certain gang members to hang out with other gang members.But Ardern shunned the idea."Our police already do incredible work to combat the issue of gangs," she told reporters today."We already have organised crime units, we have specialists within New Zealand police on the issue of gangs."She said of the 1800 new police officers this parliamentary term, 700 are tasked with tackling organised crime and gangs."We should acknowledge that our New Zealand police already do a fantastic job there."A former National MP has also dismissed the justice policies.Safe and Effective Justice Advisory Group head and former courts minister Chester Borrows told Mike Hosking there are different types of offenders, and the tough stance won't work for all of them."I can see some really good incentives there around, for instance, changes to clean slate and those sorts of things, but other things I don't like and I don't think they'll work."His says his former party's tough stance is unlikely to work."91 per cent of people in our prisons with diagnosable mental health disorders or dependencies on drugs or alcohol, but DHB's aren't in charge of health in our prisons, Corrections are, and they aren't talking with one another."Figures released by Police Minister Stuart Nash show the total number of patched gang members in New Zealand has increased by 26 per cent since October 2017.National also proposed a ban on gang patches from public places, revoking parole for gang members who return to gangs on release, and creating new sentences for violent gang crime.It supports greater police powers to search the homes and cars of gang members for firearms. This is similar to the Government's proposed Firearms Prohibition Orders, except these do not target gang members but violent, dangerous people."The Government I lead will harass and disrupt gangs every single day I am prime minister, with the single-minded goal of eliminating them," Bridges said yesterday.National's proposals raise human rights issues including freedom of movement, freedom of association, freedom of expression, the presumption of innocence and the right to be free from unreasonable search.Other proposals include:No parole for a murderer who won't say where a body is.No early release for offenders who don't have NCEA Level 2 literacy and numeracy.Requiring Corrections to notify local schools 48 hours before the release of a sex offender into a community, or within 72 hours of housing the sex offender in a new residential address.Increasing penalties for those caught supplying synthetics to eight years' jail - though the Government's new drug lawallows life imprisonment for synthetic drug dealers.Enabling cumulative sentences for offences such as murder, manslaughter, rape and sexual violation, and also if a criminal offends while on bail, in custody, or on parole. 

Jacinda Ardern goes to Tokyo and the UN at a spectacular time in world politics while at home the Govt. ditches deciles, and Police Minister Stuart Nash talks guns and gangs. Produced & Edited by Adam Simpson Engineered by Brian Holloway Camera by Mike Lowe Research by Liz Feary A TVNZ Production

Justice Minister Andrew Little live on Abortion Law reform, being blindsided by Winston Peters - and an exclusive announcement.Are Police prepared to apply personal discretion to drug prosecutions? Police Minister Stuart Nash on drugs, guns, and whether he stands behind police actions at Ihumātao . Then, We sit down with the Secretary General of NATO. His message? Get with the cyberwarfare programme. Plus, the long arm of the Chinese Government. The Chinese Embassy responds to claims made on this show about alleged Chinese government interference in the lives of New Zealanders.And we are joined by our panel to discuss the political news of the week: Stuff Circuit investigative journalist Paula Penfold, AUT Associate Professor Khylee Quince, and political commentator Brigitte Morten.

On Wednesday, 50,000 New Zealand teachers and principals will walk out of the classroom to participate in strike action that will make history. Will Education Minister Chris Hipkins offer a last minute deal?Bereaved by the Christchurch mosque attacks - how ACC rules have caused one family further hardship and exposed a gap in the system.Will he or won't he? We talk to the National Party's potential renegade MP Alfred Ngaro.And a young woman who was forced to pay child support for a baby conceived by rape, finally gets answers from Police Minister Stuart Nash.Then, we are joined by our panel to dissect this and the news of the week: The Hui's Annabelle Lee, Thomas Pryor from Sherson Willis PR and former Alliance MP Laila Harré.

Drama continues in Parliament after Nick Smith was named and suspended from Parliament. National MP Nick Smith has been relegated to being a spectator at a Justice Select Committee in Parliament this morning.Smith is meant to be on the committee looking at our general and local elections - including the issue of foreign interference.However, he was named and suspended from the debating chamber for 24 hours yesterday, after clashing with Police Minister Stuart Nash and Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard.There was a flurry of activity between the clerks and Smith at the start of submissions, and a Labour MP questioned his attendance, but he’s remained in the public seating area at the back of the room.ZB political editor Barry Soper says that even though Smith won't be in the debating chamber today, he expects to see the incident come up amongst politicians. Soper told Andrew Dickens that this all started after Smith tried to seek leave for a National bill around roadside drug testing to be moved to the top of the order paper at the next Private Member's Day."The Speaker said no, leave is not granted. It's really not for the Speaker to deny leave. What he's duty bound to do is put the question to the House and let the MPs decide, and he overruled that." Soper says that this all happened after some disorder in the public gallery."After Karen Dow, who's son was killed by a drunk driver, and she called out from the public gallery, and she yelled at Stuart Nash, the Police Minister."She had brought a petition for roadside drug testing to Parliament. When she launched that petition at the end of last year,  Stuart Nash had said a discussion document had already been approved by Cabinet and would go to consultation early this year."Nash denied making the comment yesterday, but Smith still intended to move on his bill. "He mouthed something at the Speaker, he was sent on his way, and on his way he said 'soft on drugs, just like the Government'," which is the comment that saw Smith being named and barred from Parliament. 

COMMENTWhy are we so intimidated by gangs in this country? When did we start thinking they have more important rights than the general public?I see that police are defending their decision to close a public road so that a Mongrel Mob ceremony could take place.So a road that's available to everyone - a public road - closed off for a gang. The public inconvenienced. For a gang.This was the Te Mata Peak summit road in Hawke's Bay, a popular tourist spot and thoroughfare.Police cited 'public safety' as the reason they closed the road - they reckon they didn't want too many cars creating a hazard. But wouldn't there have been no risk of hazards had a gang not decided to conduct a ceremony there?We don't know what kind of ceremony attracted the large number of Mongrel Mob to congregate, but word is it was a patching or welcoming ceremony for new recruits.Tourists, prevented form getting up the peak due to the ceremony, were understandably shocked.Imagine it: Welcome to New Zealand, feel free to enjoy our vistas and wide public spaces - just not if a gang wants to use them, sorry. If a gang's up there you'll just have to naff off.Some tourists said they were intimidated by the gang members' presence. No kidding. Not really what you expect on a trip up Te Mata Peak.Police are defending their decision by saying it's a public place, and it's not illegal to gather in a public place.But a Hastings District councillor pointed out that "if any other group or organisation wanted to use both the road access and the summit car park, they would have had to seek prior approval from the council, which would also require public notification". None of which happened.So how did the gang ride roughshod over the rules, and in doing so, get supported by police?What we did get as a result of the gathering was two arrests. Two arrests, one of which was for breach of bail, and on top of that, a litany of complaints from people regarding the traffic and lack of access.So it's fine for a gang to gather and have the luxury of a road closed for them to do so, but it's not OK for tourists and locals to access? That's priorities out of whack for you, surely.I thought Police Minister Stuart Nash was all about closing down the gangs? Not closing roads for them? I thought we weren't about allowing gangs to congregate and intimidate?Am I missing something here?Are gang patching ceremonies, or whatever it was, now more important than free public access to public spaces?

The 11 guns allegedly stolen from a police station are continuing to elude police."The investigation into this incident remains ongoing. Eleven firearms remain unaccounted for," the police told the Herald today.Alan James Harris, 38, has been charged with burglary over the disappearance of the guns from the Palmerston North Police Station on Thursday.No-one else had been charged over the incident, the police said today.They have previously appealed for public help in tracking down the missing guns.The missing weapons were not police firearms; they were being held as exhibits or had been handed in for destruction.The embarrassing loss occurred while gun owners are surrendering military-style semi-automatics (MSSAs) and assault rifles nationally as part of a Government buy-back scheme following the Christchurch mosque shootings.MSSAs and assault rifles were banned in rapid law changes after the March 15 shootings. An amnesty for handing in the weapons is operating until the end of September.When the buy-back was announced, Police Minister Stuart Nash sought police assurance they had strong processes for handling the firearms. Police said at the time they were confident they could manage the collection of the guns.Following the alleged station burglary, Nash has sought a new assurance.Police Commissioner Mike Bush has demanded an investigation into how Harris was allegedly able to get into the Palmerston North station. Stations' firearms security nationwide is also being reviewed. 

The 11 guns allegedly stolen from a police station are continuing to elude police."The investigation into this incident remains ongoing. Eleven firearms remain unaccounted for," the police told the Herald today.Alan James Harris, 38, has been charged with burglary over the disappearance of the guns from the Palmerston North Police Station on Thursday.No-one else had been charged over the incident, the police said today.They have previously appealed for public help in tracking down the missing guns.The missing weapons were not police firearms; they were being held as exhibits or had been handed in for destruction.The embarrassing loss occurred while gun owners are surrendering military-style semi-automatics (MSSAs) and assault rifles nationally as part of a Government buy-back scheme following the Christchurch mosque shootings.MSSAs and assault rifles were banned in rapid law changes after the March 15 shootings. An amnesty for handing in the weapons is operating until the end of September.When the buy-back was announced, Police Minister Stuart Nash sought police assurance they had strong processes for handling the firearms. Police said at the time they were confident they could manage the collection of the guns.Following the alleged station burglary, Nash has sought a new assurance.Police Commissioner Mike Bush has demanded an investigation into how Harris was allegedly able to get into the Palmerston North station. Stations' firearms security nationwide is also being reviewed. 

The 11 guns allegedly stolen from a police station are continuing to elude police."The investigation into this incident remains ongoing. Eleven firearms remain unaccounted for," the police told the Herald today.Alan James Harris, 38, has been charged with burglary over the disappearance of the guns from the Palmerston North Police Station on Thursday.No-one else had been charged over the incident, the police said today.They have previously appealed for public help in tracking down the missing guns.The missing weapons were not police firearms; they were being held as exhibits or had been handed in for destruction.The embarrassing loss occurred while gun owners are surrendering military-style semi-automatics (MSSAs) and assault rifles nationally as part of a Government buy-back scheme following the Christchurch mosque shootings.MSSAs and assault rifles were banned in rapid law changes after the March 15 shootings. An amnesty for handing in the weapons is operating until the end of September.When the buy-back was announced, Police Minister Stuart Nash sought police assurance they had strong processes for handling the firearms. Police said at the time they were confident they could manage the collection of the guns.Following the alleged station burglary, Nash has sought a new assurance.Police Commissioner Mike Bush has demanded an investigation into how Harris was allegedly able to get into the Palmerston North station. Stations' firearms security nationwide is also being reviewed. 

Simon Bridges is calling for police to have more power when it comes to dealing with gangs, after it was revealed gang members are refusing to hand over their guns despite a government ban on semi-automatic weapons. National MP Chris Bishop is calling for an old members bill to be revived which would give police greater power to raid gang members' homes. However, Police Minister Stuart Nash is dismissing the idea.Simon Bridges told Kate Hawkesby Police are in support of bringing the bill back."They love it, they definitely want it. I was talking to Paula Bennett who was our last Police Minister who confirmed that was absolutely the case."He said it has made a huge difference in Australia and has "dramatically reduced crime"."We are in a moment right now, where we are saying to hunters and other law-abiding folks that they can give up their guns [but] we have had a spin job done on us by the gangs in the aftermath of the Christchurch attack...but now they have made it clear that they won't give up their guns."When asked whether the Government's plan to introduce more gun changes later in the year was enough, Bridges said, "no. I don't think it is".The Police Minister says they are considering bringing in new changes such as vetting, licensing and a firearms prohibition order. However, the National Party leader said it isn't enough."This [members bill] would have been a very simple thing to cut and paste in. Unlike what we are examining in the select committee, these firearms protection orders they have been through the full parliamentary process, now, in the end, they didn't get there but that was a different time."Bridges accused the Government of blocking the law not because they don't agree with it, but because "it's not their's".He said the bill would mean gang members can't hold a firearm's license and police would be able to search the houses, person and vehicles of specificed gang members.However, Bridges said this would be reserved for a select number of gang members who are "the worst of the worst".

COMMENTI just don't understand how the gangs can go from doing haka outside mosques (enjoying some high profile publicity) to a few weeks later refusing to hand over their guns.Standing in solidarity with Muslims outside the mosques after the shootings, offering condolences and doing media interviews about their support - but then reverting to type and basically giving the law the middle finger.Legislation to change firearms laws is on its way and the Government has given gun owners until September to hand them over.But the Mongrel Mob has said no thanks. Not for them.The president of the Waikato chapter of the Mongrel Mob said mass shootings do not get committed by gang members. That was his argument. He also pointed to their safety. They need their guns to be safe, apparently.I've got an idea that's safe - don't be in a gang.Black Power went one step further on the 'keep our guns' argument, and claimed it's a hunting necessity - to hunt for food for their families.But how many of us are able to source food without a semi-automatic? Probably most.And that's before we get to the legality of where these guns came from and how many there are.Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Police Minister Stuart Nash had their serious faces on yesterday as they issued stern warnings to gangs to hand over guns - "or there'll be consequences", they said.Those consequences involve the police following them up. Sending the police in to follow up on the gangs' guns. The very same police force they stood next to in Christchurch, in solidarity with victims of... guns.So I just don't get - or subscribe - to the gangs' arguments to keep their guns.The Government says it's not up for discussion or debate, and that it's not a voluntary exercise, it's compulsory."We intend to enforce the law and it's not a matter of co-operation," Winston Peters said.Stuart Nash hasn't ruled out giving police extra powers to search and seize guns from gang members - he was acutely unimpressed at their blatant refusal to obey the law.But should we be surprised? Probably not.