Wagner Nicky: Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Bill — First Reading 
Wagner Nicky: Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Bill — First Reading 
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NICKY WAGNER (National) 
: 
 I rise to support this Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Bill. I support it because on face value the philosophy behind it stands us in good stead. I think most New Zealanders do believe that crime should not pay. However after listening to Nandor Tanczos and Dr Pita Sharples I say that we must be very careful to make sure that the protections of people who are innocent are taken into consideration when we deal with this bill. 
Any bill that discourages crime or criminal activity particularly one that manages to get at the people who are behind criminal activity—the bosses the gang leaders and the organised crime administrators; those people who are at an arm’s length from crime and who are normally able to benefit from it without taking the risks—is important. It is also good that we are to come into line with other countries that have passed similar legislation that allows the confiscation of the property and profits of non-convicted criminals who have been involved with significant criminal activity over a length of time. It is in line with National’s policy in 2005 which was to amend the Proceeds of Crime Act and to target the economic base of organised crime. 
Ordinary New Zealanders have really had enough of crime. They are getting tired of what is going on in our cities. Anyone who lives in the cities is aware of serial burglaries there are continuous car conversions and I think there is a real fear of drug and alcohol - fuelled activities on our streets. I recently surveyed the constituency of Christchurch Central and every single answer that I received listed the level of crime and violence on the street as being something that was important to people and something that bothered them. 
Of course it is the money and the power that goes with that money that makes crime and the criminal lifestyle so attractive. I am particularly concerned about how young people are affected by seeing people on the streets who have large amounts of money—and large amounts of freedom to do what they want—that they know have come from an involvement in crime. Young people at the moment are particularly enamoured with that rap gangster look. It is not just in New Zealand; it is a trend right across the world. They love the look of the fast fancy cars the hot clothes and the bling-bling accessories. One needs only to look at music videos on television to see that this look is held up as an ideal. 
Of course it is these young people who become the new recruits in organised crime. They are the ones who go out and do the little crime that they get caught for as Nandor Tanczos said while the big boys sit at home with no risk attached to their actions at all. It is the new recruits who go out and do the crime who end up doing the time—they end up in trouble. So if this bill can increase the risk to those who are employing young people to do crimes sending them out to do their dirty work then I agree with it. 
I think that a large number of people have done very well out of crime in New Zealand. One needs only to look at the crime statistics and to look at the amount of money that is involved particularly with drug dealing. Gang bosses and puppet masters are sitting there enjoying watching the misery of large numbers of people in our society. I do not think it is acceptable for them to be able to get away with that. 
This bill repeals the Proceeds of Crime Act 1991 which has no teeth in this situation. It can deal only with people who have been convicted and therefore they tend to be the small fry and it also tends to collect small amounts of money—rather paltry amounts of money. That may please Nandor Tanczos but I think it would be good if we could get our hands on a bit more of the larger amount of money that is going through the criminal world. 
I believe that this new bill has the ability to make a real difference. The fact that it can confiscate property from those who are involved in significant criminal activity without the need for a conviction will cause a shake-up. But we must be sure that we balance it with the protections that are needed to protect people who may innocently be caught up in this situation—although I also take the point made by New Zealand First that it is quite difficult to be involved closely with people who are in the criminal world without knowing what is going on. 
But if this bill can do anything to reduce the rewards of crime going to individuals particularly those big boys who have been immune up until now if it could reduce the attractiveness of the wealth of crime so that young people do not get involved—so that people may not end up offending—and if it could reduce the resources available to those who get involved with criminal activity then I believe it should be supported. Therefore I support this bill going to the select committee with the proviso that people look very carefully to maintain protections for the people involved.