Classic Australian movie Mad Max was launched with the tagline, “When the gangs take over the highway… Remember he’s on your side”. As gangs, ram-raiders and other criminals take over New Zealand, Kiwis have no Mad Max to pray for. They’ve only got Absurd Andersen and Cheerful Chippy — and they’re not on your side.
No matter what they say.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says its unacceptable that Opotiki has been brought to a standstill after a gang slaying brought gang members to the area and fears of retribution.
Hipkins told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking that schools closing and services such as public transport stopping due to the increase in gang activity was not acceptable.
So, why does it keep happening? From highways to suburban streets, gangs seem to do as they please and police do nothing. Except, occasionally, act as official escorts.
And the government? For all Hipkins’ tough talk, the most notable thing the government has done in regard to gangs in recent years is dole out millions in taxpayers’ money.
Hipkins said he “absolutely backed” the presence of increased police resources in the town.
Somebody’s got to escort the gang members on their way to the tangi, after all.
Opotiki mayor David Moore told AM that he and police are working to calm tensions in the town.
He said those in town for the tangi of Mongrel Mob Barbarians president Steven Rota Taiatini are so far behaving.
He added that people in the town were carrying on as normal, using the fact that he was able to go out and walk his dog as normal this morning as an example […]
He said schools closing for a few days was probably a good idea, with some schools located close to the tangi.
“The schools that were open yesterday, a large number of children were away anyway.”
Because their parents were too scared to send them? Or because they were off to the tangi, too? Neither prospect is exactly reassuring, surely?
He said gang members were still members of the community.
“We just have to give the whanau some respect and hopefully the police work quickly to solve this case.”
NZ Herald
Heaven forbid that anyone say anything mean about gang members.
And heaven forbid that New Zealanders should worry about crime, when stuff like this just keeps happening:
Auckland police have charged a teenager after a 12-year-old girl was allegedly brutally beaten outside a McDonald’s in Auckland.
The young girl was left covered in blood after the vicious assault on Saturday at Glenfield McDonald’s.
“Police can now advise a 14-year-old female has been charged in relation to an incident in Glenfield on Saturday,” a police spokesperson said […]
The young girl was enjoying a meal with her classmates at Glenfield McDonald’s and laughing together when two girls at another table “mistakenly” believed they were being laughed at.
As usual what the media choose not to say speaks louder than what they otherwise choose to trumpet from the rooftops.
And, as usual, politicians are all care and no responsibility.
Speaking to AM, Hipkins said the photos of the girl in blood-soaked pants and nursing a gash on her head after the beating would leave any parent heartbroken.
“I can say, as a parent, that every parent would be heartbroken by that photo,” he said.
On Breakfast, Hipkins insisted that New Zealand is a safe country.
NZ Herald
Many Kiwis may beg to differ.
They might also be asking questions about how well Labour’s “wellbeing” focus on law and order is going.
Maybe McDonalds just need to install some fog cannons and then the government can go back to pretending nothing’s happening.