Carter KahurangiKAHURANGI CARTER (Green): We are here talking about banning gang patches in public places and giving the police the ability to search the homes of people who are going to the supermarket or to pick up their kids from school not because of what they have done but because of what they might possibly maybe potentially do. If simply removing a piece of clothing could solve the real issues we are facing in New Zealand we could all go on holiday and take off a few layers. Raincoat gone—cool child poverty solved. Hoodies gone—homelessness solved. Gang patches gone is not going to make New Zealand a safer society.Less than a week ago we all sat here as the royal commission of inquiry into abuse in State care report was tabled. It outlined how the State targeted Māori kids Pacific kids and poor kids—a stolen generation of tamariki who were tortured abused not believed or cared for. The report clearly outlines the pathway from abuse in State care to the creation of gangs. We sat and listened to the Prime Minister say you … [have been] heard … you … [have been] believed." which resonated with New Zealanders because New Zealanders are compassionate people and they're pretty on to it too and we understand authoritative figures like the police and the State being so unsafe that people will find community with each other and that is how we the State are responsible for gangs being created. We have a responsibility to implement real solutions—solutions which are spelled out for everyone to see in the 138 recommendations in the royal inquiry report. The report also told us that most gang members are survivors of abuse in State care. We are the elected representatives of the State who abused these children and we must take responsibility for the problem that we created. The Minister for Children said "if you see something … [speak up]." and this is me speaking up for all New Zealanders because we cannot continue to class people as bottom-feeding criminals if we want a safe and thriving New Zealand.We can make sensible law when we work collaboratively and that is what the people of New Zealand want us to do—to make meaningful change. It's a shame this bill is even before the House because it makes the issue seem like an easy fix with the slogan "tough on crime". Guess what! The police were already tough on gangs before this Government came into power but the conditions of poverty housing insecurity and making it harder for Kiwis to live is creating the perfect conditions for gangs to thrive. We know from experience that children in New Zealand who are in State care stripped of their culture and rights are on a pathway to prison and gangs. We need to get serious about the causes because if we don't acknowledge the causes we won't fix anything. Banning gang patches will not make New Zealand safer and it's an insult to every Kiwi's intelligence to make it seem like they don't know the real work that needs to be done. If we define people by whether they are affiliated with a gang or otherwise we are ignoring the hard work that needs to be done. The Government would rather talk about gang patches than fund Oranga Tamariki front-line staff. But Government would rather talk about gang patches than deal with poverty. The Government would rather talk about gang patches than deal with homelessness. The Government would rather talk about gang patches than protecting tamariki Māori in care. I'd love to go on holiday and take my raincoat off if it solved the real issues New Zealand faces but I'm here to do the work New Zealanders want us to do—to make New Zealand a place where everyone can thrive and be safe. I want you to ask yourself would you rather be walking down a dark alley and see a patched member or a police officer? For many people in New Zealand they would feel safer alone with a patched member than the police and we need to ask ourselves why."