Mark Ron: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Question Time Questions to Members 
Mark Ron: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Question Time Questions to Members 
[Volume:607;Page:4492] 
6.  
RON MARK (NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Police 
: Is he committed to ensuring all New Zealanders can go about their business without undue fear of crime? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN (Minister of Transport) 
 on behalf of the 
 Minister of Police 
: Yes. 
Ron Mark 
: If the Minister truly believes that does that explain his inaction and doing nothing about Auckland’s police staffing crisis which was reported by Richard Middleton the Vice-President of the New Zealand Police Association in response to a 60 percent increase in Auckland police quitting their jobs an increase that is outrageous given that Auckland already has the highest rate of crime in the country— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That is sufficient. 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: The Government has done an enormous amount about police resourcing. The amount of money that the police get this financial year is $960 million compared with $860 million when that crowd was last in Government. 
Clayton Cosgrove 
: What does available data suggest is the biggest concern of New Zealanders in the area of crime and public safety? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: The last published national survey of crime victims revealed that the highest personal fear related to the risk of being injured in a crash caused by a drunken driver. Over the last 5 years police have continued to make significant inroads in the road toll. It is now at its lowest level in 40 years and the House should congratulate the police on that work. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: Does the Minister accept that there is a link between police numbers and the crime rate; if so why are there fewer police officers in Greater Auckland today than there were 2 years ago? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: The reality is that the resources in the police have risen and for the acting spokesperson’s information I point out that as at 28 February this year there were 7313 sworn staff compared with 6939 when that member was last in Government. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Mr Ryall did not ask about the general nationwide figures. He asked specifically about Auckland which he said had a huge and rising crime rate. I know that any answer does in this House but frankly what is the purpose of asking questions on a specific area which has more than a third of the country’s population then getting a nationwide answer with no attempt at all to address the more specific question? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister addressed the question. He might not have satisfied the member and of course it is the member’s right to say so by way of supplementary questions. 
Deborah Coddington 
: What assurances can the Minister give families in south Auckland where police in the last 3 weeks have received several complaints about convicted paedophile Peter Liddell hanging around children and when the Papakura police told me this morning that they are too stretched as a result of four homicides to send a target squad to investigate immediately? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: The Government is doing quite a lot about that including things like bringing UK police to Auckland shifting police to Auckland and trainees in Auckland. It is a bit rich for that member to raise issues about resources in Auckland when that party takes resources that should be used in Auckland electorates and puts them in a member’s flat. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister will now stand and withdraw that comment. 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: I withdraw. 
Ron Mark 
: How can the people believe that the Minister really is committed to ensuring that all New Zealanders can go about their business without undue fear of crime when people like Scotty Watson a Ready to Retail coordinator from Rotorua have written to that Minister expressing on behalf of a larger number of businessmen their total disgust at this Government’s inaction in ensuring that the retail centres of Rotorua are safe from the thugs who pervade those streets? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Because the Minister is a believable kind of guy. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Is that an answer? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No. On reflection I think that is a fair comment. On this occasion I am going to ask the Minister to give a fuller answer than that. 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: He is very believable because of the actions he has taken. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: I seek leave to table a report that shows the startling changes in staffing in Greater Auckland in the last few years. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is. 
Ron Mark 
: I seek leave to table a letter a letter dated 20 January 2003 from Mr Scotty Watson retail coordinator to the Minister George Hawkins. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.