McKee NicoleNICOLE McKEE (ACT): This is a split call Madam Speaker. Thank you. In the wake of the two cyclones that New Zealand has experienced this year Cyclone Hale and Cyclone Gabrielle I'd just like to acknowledge the devastation that has occurred in Auckland in the Hawke's Bay Te Tai Rāwhiti and our East Coast region and the people that have been affected—including the families of the 15 who have passed away over these two tragedies—people who've lost their lives and many who have lost their homes their businesses and those that have lost stock animals. It's tough especially for those that have lost everything.I'd like to acknowledge the families around the country who are still waiting to hear about their own families who have not yet contacted them. I too was in that situation until a mere two days ago when I heard of family members being safe in Gisborne. Aroha mai. Now we are waiting on news as to the status of the cemetery next to the beach in Tolaga Bay where my grandfather his siblings and his parents are buried. Aroha mai. I'd like to acknowledge the work the work of the volunteers the communities the linesmen police defence first responders Fire and Emergency New Zealand iwi and marae who have been there on the ground. I commend them for the way that they have worked together and continued to work for the benefit of their communities and their whānau.What I do not understand is the response from the Government in regard to law and order in these areas that have been affected by the cyclones. Those on the ground are telling us that looters and gangs are stealing whatever they can get their hands on yet the police commissioner and the police Minister will assure the country that crime isn't a problem in the region. The commissioner even went so far as to tell the country on morning television that crime stats have come down in the region and it's only domestic violence that's gone up by 60 percent. Well when your phone and your electricity are out it's kind of hard to report crime so I'm not surprised at all that the stats are down. The reality is though people don't care about stats; they care about presence—law enforcement presence. They care about deterrence if you can't actually stop the crime. This morning we received a message from someone in Gisborne saying their local Four Square had been robbed overnight. They asked for more police and military presence in the city to curb potential crime. We have two mayors from the Hawke's Bay saying they need help with crime because their own security staff are being attacked and abused. And we have watched on television as a lady explained that the local Mongrel Mob were casing her street and they had been stealing generators and food delivered to help the entire community. Gang membership is up; it's up by over 56 percent and we're still waiting for a new date from the Government as to when the 1800 police are going to be delivered. The Minister of Police has simply told the gangs to pull their heads in to de-patch to pick up a shovel and to help out. Why is the Minister being so nice to a bunch of mongrels who operate in mobs terrorising people? Lawlessness is their whole point. The affected communities want to hear the Minister of Police say that lawlessness will not be tolerated and that those that are caught looting and threatening others will face the full extent of the law and will be locked up. The affected communities want to see a police and defence presence in their streets at their roadblocks and to not be left behind. Being vocal on intolerance to crime and locking up looters and intimidators will send a clearer message to the gangs. This should have been a part of the response and it is a necessary part of the recovery. Invoke section 9 of the Defence Act 1990 and really support our communities with law and order.