How do we fix NZ's "broken" energy sector?
He stressed the need for the migrants to pay their own costs and not rely on the taxpayer. Video / Mark Mitchell
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1News
4 hours ago
- 1News
Police Minister says record high gang numbers 'highly concerning'
For the first time, the number of patched gang members and gang prospects has surpassed 10,000 — with Police Minister Mark Mitchell acknowledging the figure is highly concerning. The number of gang members has been steadily growing in recent years. There were 9270 gang members on the National Gang List at the time of the 2023 election. As of July 10, there were 10,009 — an increase of more than 700 gang members and associates. The National Gang List counted patched members and prospects identified by state agencies. Police officer numbers are failing to keep up with the national gang member list, Benedict Collins reports. (Source: 1News) Mitchell told 1News today that the Government's tough on crime policies were working and gang numbers were now growing more slowly. ADVERTISEMENT "We're going after the gangs, we're making their life as difficult as possible," he said. He repeatedly blamed the rising gang numbers on the previous Labour-led government and their policies. "We're not going to reverse what happened under Labour [for] six years, where you saw a massive increase in gang numbers. "We're heading in the right direction." In an answer to a Parliamentary written question, however, Mitchell acknowledged the issue was alarming. "I acknowledge that it is highly concerning to see gang membership grow to this level." ADVERTISEMENT Labour's police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said the Prime Minister and his Government were failing to make New Zealanders safer. "Not only have gang numbers increased but methamphetamine levels have skyrocketed under their watch," she said. However, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today maintained his Government was "smashing the gangs". "I'm proud of the progress that we've made, I mean putting the gang patches [ban] in place — many people said that couldn't be done." Criminologist Jarrod Gilbert said the gang patch ban may actually be leading to an undercount of gang members now. "We can't identify the gangs anymore because insignia has been banned so, perversely ,we might see numbers come down on this list, it's not reflective of anything that's happening on the street it's just that the gangs are more invisible." When in opposition, the National Party repeatedly attacked the previous Labour government over rising gang numbers. Data from the Police Minister's office shows that when Labour came to power in 2017 there were 5343 individuals on the National Gang List. By the 2023 election, there were 9270 — an increase of nearly 4000 over six years.
Scoop
4 hours ago
- Scoop
HTP Change Aimed At Stopping Smoking
Hon Casey Costello Associate Minister of Health The Government's move to reduce the excise on Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) is about getting more people to quit smoking, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. 'The Labour Party and some people in RNZ are fixated on tobacco companies,' Ms Costello says. 'What Ayesha Verrall has said about the cost and benefit of this policy is completely untrue. 'We want people to stop smoking, and the contingent liability forecast by Treasury will only happen if a lot of people quit smoking and the Government's revenue from tobacco excise reduces significantly because of this. 'Obviously if that happens it's a good thing for smoking rates and peoples' health. Last year, a change was made to halve the excise duty on heated tobacco products (HTPs) to see if that might encourage cigarette smokers to switch to a less harmful product. There was to be an evaluation of the change after a year, but because of vaping regulation changes, HTP devices were withdrawn from the market for some of the year. HTPs are now back on the market and the review has been extended to July 2027 as there will be more data available. Last year's cabinet paper included preliminary modelling from the Ministry of Health showing 7,200 people quitting smoking in the first two years from the excise change. It also included estimates of the potential costs from reduced revenue from tobacco excise from people no longer smoking, and from the excise reduction on HTPs. These were included in the Budget documents as contingent liabilities to recognise the potential impact on the Government's accounts. 'What Labour and RNZ are saying is incredibly misleading,' Ms Costello says. 'To be absolutely clear, this is no 'tax break' for the industry. 'I said at the time and continue to say that our drive is to stop smoking. We are trying to see if HTPs can play a similar role to vaping and provide an alternative product and way to quit for smokers. 'We've made great progress in reducing smoking rates and with particular groups like young people and most smokers are now long-term and older and we need to try different ways to help them. 'While a full evaluation of this policy is two years away, I have asked the Ministry of Health to ensure that the excise reduction in HTPs continues to be passed on to consumers.' The Ministry of Health has also established an expert advisory group to look at improving the regulatory regime around all nicotine and tobacco products. The group includes representatives from Health Coalition Aotearoa, ASH, Vape Free Kids, Cancer Society, Heart Foundation, Hāpai te Hauora, the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation, Auckland and Otago Universities and other experts and is due to report to the Minister before the end of the year.
1News
9 hours ago
- 1News
Bay of Islands hapū achieves Ngāpuhi-first Treaty milestone
A Bay of Islands trust representing four Ngāpuhi hapū groupings has achieved a major milestone in its Treaty of Waitangi negotiations. The Trust received its Crown Deed of Mandate recognition on July 16 - the first for a group of Ngāpuhi hapū. Te Whakaaetanga Trust chairperson Herb Rihari (Ngāti Torehina ki Matakā) said the milestone was of 'historical significance'. 'Te Whakaaetanga is looking forward to discussing and negotiating the full spectrum of their redress options,' Rihari said. Ngāpuhi — New Zealand's largest iwi with almost 185,000 people — has not yet achieved Treaty of Waitangi settlement. ADVERTISEMENT The hapū grouping's area of claim encompasses most of Pēwhairangi/the Bay of Islands. It includes the eastern Bay of Islands' Ipipiri Islands where wealthy American writer Zane Grey set up his gamefishing base at Urupukapuka Island's Otehei Bay in 1926 and described New Zealand as the 'Angler's El Dorado'. It also includes Motukōkako (Piercy Island) which features the internationally-famous Hole in the Rock boat trip tourist destination, and Cape Brett. Rihari said Te Whakaaetanga Trust's Crown Deed of Mandate had been recognised after 18 years' mahi. Te Whakaaetanga Trust's achievement comes 14 years after the Government's controversial 2011 Tūhorunuku Deed of Mandate, which was towards a single settlement for all of Ngāpuhi. That Deed was rescinded in 2019, after major rejection from within the iwi's 100-plus hapū. The July Deed of Mandate meant the Crown formally recognised the trust's mandate to negotiate a Treaty of Waitangi settlement on behalf of its affiliated hapū. ADVERTISEMENT The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including the atmospheric river arrives, Epstein's girlfriend pushes for appeal, and Jennifer Lopez's wardrobe malfunction. (Source: Breakfast) Rihari said it also opened the door to "negotiate redress that acknowledges the mamae (hurt) of the past and creates meaningful opportunities for our hapū and mokopuna". 'It provides a foundation for enduring redress, cultural and economic revitalisation and the restoration of hapū mana across our rohe,' Rihari said. Te Whakaaetanga Trust represents coastal hapū Ngāti Kuta, Ngāti Manu me ngā hapū rīriki - Te Uri o Raewera and Te Uri Karaka, Ngāti Torehina ki Matakā and Patukeha. The trust is made up of two people from each of the hapū it represents. Rihari said the hapū grouping's area of claim approximately encompassed an area bounded in the north by the Bay of Islands' Purerua Peninsula. Its boundary ran from the peninsula's tip, south-east across the waters of the Bay of Islands to Cape Brett and Rāwhiti. ADVERTISEMENT Te Whakaaetanga Trust chairperson Herb Rihari (Source: Local Democracy Reporting) Rihari said the boundary then travelled south-west to Karetu. From there, the claim's western boundary headed roughly north to Tāpeka Point and included Opua and Russell settlements. It continued northwards across Bay of Islands waters including Moturoa Island on the way to Te Puna Inlet. From there it continued to the northern side of Purerua Peninsula, the claim encompassing all of the landform to the east, including the maunga (mountain) Matakā at the peninsula's tip. Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith told Local Democracy Reporting Northland the Crown Deed of Mandate for Te Whakaaetanga was a positive achievement. "We're pleased to be making progress,' Goldsmith said. Northland Māori leader and Te Kotahitanga co-chair Pita Tipene said it was a major milestone for Ngāpuhi hapū working towards Treaty of Waitangi redress. ADVERTISEMENT It offered a model for Ngāpuhi tribes, such as those around Waimate, Taiamai, Kaikohe and Whangaroa who were collectivising towards the same goal. Tipene said it was important the Government approached any Ngāpuhi Treaty of Waitangi hapū redress on a hapū-based commercial and cultural basis. However, Minister Goldsmith poured cold water on that. 'The Government has indicated its preference for a single financial redress for Ngāpuhi, with a small group of cultural-based settlements sitting underneath,' Goldsmith said. 'Te Whakaaetanga is now mandated as one of the groups with which we will be discussing a cultural settlement,' Goldsmith said. Rihari said the next stage would be preparation for formal negotiations with the Crown and the trust was committed to ongoing kōrero with all who 'held an interest in our shared future'. Rihari said many hands, hearts and minds — past and present — had contributed to the kaupapa of achieving the deed of mandate milestone over many years. ADVERTISEMENT 'Ehara tēnei i te mahi māmā, engari he mahi nui mō ngā uri whakatupu. Mā tātou katoa tēnei e kawe, mā te rangimārie, mā te kotahitanga, mā te aroha hoki. 'This is not easy work, but it is important work for the generations to come. Together, through unity, peace and aroha, we carry it forward.' Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
