Mark Ron: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Mark Ron: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:606;Page:3434] 
10.  
RON MARK (NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Police 
: What initiatives is he putting in place to deal with the gang situation in Palmerston North? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL (Minister of Commerce) 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister of Police 
: The police instituted Operation Snag in February 2002 which has maintained a high profile in quickly dealing with gang incidents and has included 39 arrests of gang members and/or associates. 
Ron Mark 
: In respect of gangs why has the Minister not brought legislation to the House similar to the Terrorism Suppression Act of 2002 which would make it illegal to associate with be a member of or finance any gang-like organisation so listed on a similar register or is everything that the Minister said when Labour was on its anti-gang crusade between 1994 and 1997 nothing more than hot air as we suspect? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL: 
 In the light of the very good work that has been undertaken in Operation Snag I think that question is very unfortunate. I should also advise that member that in the period they have operated the police have recovered 15 firearms and issued driving-related offence notices amounting to fines of over $50000. Property valued at $32000 has been seized via the court processes and of course some significant sentences of imprisonment have been imposed. I think the police are working very well on this very difficult issue. 
Hon Steve Maharey 
: Can the Minister advise whether the police initiatives have been supported by a range of other agencies resident in the excellent city of Palmerston North? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: Yes Work and Income Housing New Zealand Child Youth and Family Services the local council and numerous community agencies are working very closely together to address the underlying problems within the community. Issues relating to those matters cannot be addressed in isolation. This is a model whole-of-Government approach and is welcomed by the police. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: In view of the fact that gangs are making many millions of dollars through their control of the vile methamphetamine trade and associated violence when will he progress legislation to allow the courts greater powers to confiscate the assets of those drug-dealing gangs or will I have to set up a seminar for the Government to understand that if we take the money off the gangs we can cut their power and influence? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: If the member had been listening to the answer I gave to the first supplementary question he would be aware that property has been seized via court processes. 
Dr Muriel Newman 
: Given the fact that the answer to my parliamentary question for written answer No.16044 revealed that gang apprehensions have increased by over 30 percent since Labour has been in power why is the Government not giving the problem of gangs the same urgency that it is giving the problem of dogs or is the answer that dogs cannot vote? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: Maybe I misheard the member but I think she said the rate of gang apprehensions had increased by over 30 percent. I would suggest that the police are doing their job very well. 
Marc Alexander 
: In the light of the out-of-control gang shootings in Palmerston North can the Minister advise whether he has done anything to change his own view that in his words  
Hansard 
 Volume 560 at page 1863 14 May 1997: “At the moment it is the gangs who are organised not the Government.”; if not is it not time that he did? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: I should make the point that last weekend when that particular event occurred was the anniversary of a gang associate’s death which brought many gang members back to town. There was considerable tension around that but those extra people have now left town. The police responded very well to the situation. 
Ron Mark 
: Has it escaped the Minister’s memory that the last time the nation saw such inter-gang warfare was in 1996 and the result of that was an innocent woman being shot while sitting in her car at an intersection in Addington and is that what it is going to take before this Government outlaws gangs? 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: An event that occurred in 1996 that did not result in the banning of gangs in the period of time that that member was part of the Government makes his question somewhat ironic.