Wang Kenneth: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Wang Kenneth: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:624;Page:19048] 
12.  
KENNETH WANG (ACT) 
 to the  
Minister of Police 
: Does he agree with the reported comments of Auckland’s Chinese community that New Zealand’s stance on crime is too soft and those of the secretary of the United Chinese Association that the perception of New Zealand being a safe place is changing; if so what is he going to do about this? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) 
: 
 I do understand the concerns that all of us have when serious crime is committed in the community. However I can agree that the perception of New Zealand is changing because the latest crime statistics show that New Zealand is a safer place. Last year crime dropped 8.2 percent. Crime is at its lowest rate since 1982. 
Kenneth Wang 
: What will he do about the fact that 38 percent of Asians surveyed by the Manukau City Council—before the latest kidnapping—felt unsafe in their homes which is a much higher percentage than for other New Zealanders? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: The police have made a number of moves to make sure that Asian communities feel safer. There are now 60 sworn staff across the country who speak Asian languages—15 of them in Auckland. The Language Line has been set up to assist people and we have six Asian police at the Police College at the moment. That is a very positive move as we build those numbers up. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: Is the Minister confident that the police and the Immigration Service work closely enough to identify those arrivals who may pose a risk to New Zealand residents? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: Those who pose a risk are always carefully looked at by the police and they have an Asian crime unit working in Auckland at the moment. As far as immigration goes the member should ask that of the Minister of Immigration. 
Dr Muriel Newman 
: Does the Minister still believe that New Zealand women are more worried about traffic offending than violent crime in light of Monday’s kidnapping of Kelly Zhao and the fact that since he has been the Minister violent crime has risen by 14 percent nationwide and by up to 41.9 percent in some police districts; if so why? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: The amount of violent crime has dropped for the first time. It went up 76 percent when National was in power which is far higher than the 14 percent that the member is quoting. I can say that in 2002 23 Asians were identified as kidnapping offenders; in 2003 there were 72; and last year there were just nine. 
Dr Muriel Newman 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. My question was whether he still believes that New Zealand women are more worried about traffic offending than about violent crime and I think the Minister did not address that question at all. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Would the Minister wish to address the question. 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: The member asked lots of questions within that and I answered some of those questions. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Would the Minister address one of the questions that were put to him by the member. 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: I imagine that people who are kidnapped consider being kidnapped is far more serious than road events but I imagine that parents who lose kids on the road consider that to be very important. 
Ron Mark 
: I seek leave to table some documents. The first document is notes in a statement dated 28 February 2005 taken in my office in Christchurch from a person whom I will call victim C regarding Mr John Clarke and his activities. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Ron Mark 
: The second document is a statement made to the police on 18 February by a lady whom I will describe as victim C. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Ron Mark 
: I assure the Minister that the victim is entirely happy with this. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: The objection has been registered. The matter has been dealt with. 
Ron Mark 
: I seek leave again to table a document that the victim is perfectly happy to have tabled in this House. It is a statement that she gave to the police dated 18 February this year. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Ron Mark 
: I seek leave to table transcripts taken from text messages on victim C’s cellphone that were sent to her by Mr John Clarke. Again it is a police job sheet and the first date on it is 18 February 2005. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is. 
Ron Mark 
: I seek leave to table with the permission of the victim—as in all previous cases—a police anti-harassment notice issued to Mr John Albert Thomas Clarke which I understand was delivered to him at 1300 hours at Paparua prison on 8 March. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Is this for the same document as before but with mention of the permission? 
Ron Mark 
: No this is a new document—an anti-harassment notice. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.