|
Gang patch ban won't work, says Turia
24 March 2006
By BRITTON BROUN
Banning gang patches will not work and ignores the real causes behind gang
clashes, Maori party co-leader Tariana Turia says.
Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws' bylaw banning the patches was endorsed by the
Wanganui City Council's strategy committee last night and is set to go for
public consultation.
The bylaw will ban gang patches in the central city and other public places,
including shopping centres, parks and beaches.
Mongrel Mob chief Randall Nahona would not comment on the law but his wife had
been speaking to Mrs Turia, who said the focus on gang patches and colours
missed the real problem.
"I'm not shifting the blame to Laws, all he is doing is politicking," Mrs Turia
said. "He's picked the most visible thing but there are deeper underlying issues
that society doesn't know how to cope with."
She said gang criminality and violence were linked to issues of unemployment,
poverty, alcohol and drugs.
"Banning patches is not going to make one iota of difference. It's not going to
alter their behaviour, it's not going to change the situation – gang members
still know one another."
AdvertisementAdvertisementThough there was a huge reaction to the clash between
Hell's Angels and Mongrel Mob members earlier this month, Mrs Turia said she did
not believe the wider Wanganui community was under threat. She said the real
problem was violence in general, which needed to be looked at before people
started singling out gangs.
"We react when gang violence rears its head but do we have the same reaction if
our next door neighbour is violent. Every one of us could do something today to
reduce violence, we all need to take responsibility."
Mr Laws said the bylaw expressed the wishes of residents and had national
support in a poll on the Stuff website.
Mrs Turia had the opportunity to do something about Maori underachievement and
had failed to achieve anything, he said.
"When she gets into power and does something constructive, we'll start listening
to her."
Denis O'Reilly, a lifelong Black Power member and former head of a Government
employment agency, said banning tactics had proven ineffective.
"What we have tried since the mid-90s, all it's done is up gang membership and
gang numbers in prison."
