Minister Hipkins way off the mark on unlawful Police action

The Green Party is calling on Minister Hipkins to address the underlying causes of crime, rather than to allow for abusive, American-style policing which makes our communities less safe.

“Tough on crime rhetoric that justifies abusive policing might look good in the newspaper but it doesn’t work in our communities,” says Green Party justice spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman.

The Green Party was responding to comments the Minister made today saying the Government may legislate to allow police to gather young people’s photographs and fingerprints, even after two damning recent reports said the practice breached the rights of young, predominantly Māori, victims.

“There is no criminal justice purpose to taking or keeping photos or fingerprints, especially of children, where there’s no suspicion of offending.

“Evidence shows that police are far more likely to use their power against Māori and Pasifika communities, as well as poorer communities, or those who suffer mental health challenges.

“Minister Hipkins’ ideas won’t help keep our communities safe. What will help is making sure everyone can make ends meet, put a roof over their heads, or food on the table.

“The Green Party is the only party that understands that our communities are safer when action is to tackle the underlying drivers of crime. Giving police more powers, rather than investing in lasting solutions for our communities would be a huge mistake.

“With more Green MPs we can make the investments we need into inclusive education, mental healthcare, addiction treatment, liveable incomes and Māori-led justice. This is the best way to support young people to thrive away from a life of crime,” says Golriz Ghahraman.

Action

Protect Nature

Volunteer

The Greens are proud to be driven by passionate people like you. Today we need your help to take action on the biggest issues facing Aotearoa. Volu...

Action

Save Auckland's Climate Budget

Sign the petition to stop Mayor Wayne Brown's proposal for dangerous cuts to climate and environmental programmes that protect us from extreme weat...

Action

No New Mines 2023

Action

Expand Voting

Now more than ever, young people in Aotearoa are impacted by Government decisions, and they deserve to have a say. We are calling on all Members of...

Action

End Intensive Winter Grazing

Sign the petition to Labour Ministers, to move faster in bringing regulations into force and end intensive winter grazing.

Action

Trains for Climate

Add your name to our open letter urging the Minister for Finance Grant Robertson to save our passenger trains between Wellington, the Wairarapa and...

Action

Healthy Oceans 2022

Join our Healthy Oceans Crew to help us keep the health and protection of our oceans high on the Labour Government’s political agenda.

Action

It's time: A Ministry for Rainbow Communities

Join our call asking the Prime Minister to establish a Ministry for Rainbow Communities that can champion Rainbow issues.

Action

No new mines on conservation land

Sign the open letter asking Labour Ministers to stick to their promise of banning new mining projects on conservation land.

Action

Allow community ownership of our buses

Public transport is an essential service and helps to tackle the climate crisis by reducing our carbon emissions. But there are barriers to communi...

Action

Local Events

We have activists across Aotearoa / New Zealand who are working hard to build a brighter future for our kids and grandkids. This page lists upcomin...

Latest Justice Announcements

Story

Hate speech law fails women, Rainbow and disabled people

The Green Party today welcomed the first reading in Parliament of legislation to protect religious groups from hate speech, but remain concerned th...

Hate speech change welcome, but still leaves communities at risk

The Green Party welcomes hate speech reform to protect religious groups, but is concerned that the exclusion of women, rainbow, and disability comm...

Young people deserve better

The National Party’s plan to put children into military boot camps is so flawed it is dangerous.

Three strikes law gone but not forgotten for many

The repeal of the archaic three strikes law is welcome but it doesn’t go far enough, the Green Party says.

Government must focus on the underlying causes of crime to combat gang violence

We need action to address the underlying causes of crime, not more of the same simplistic solutions that we know do not work and risk harming commu...

Greens call for government to implement all recommendations of Casey report into detention of asylum seekers

An independent review of New Zealand’s detention regime for asylum seekers has found arbitrary and abusive practices in Aotearoa’s immigration law,...

Story

Government must focus on the underlying causes of crime to combat gang violence

We need action to address the underlying causes of crime, not more of the same simplistic solutions that we know do not work and risk harming commu...

Māori children are not the cause of crime

The Green party do not support the Police approaching and photographing rangatahi Māori to already assume them as criminals.

Greens welcome police ruling out of Armed Response Teams

The Green Party is welcoming the police’s decision to rule out any extended use of the Armed Response Teams (ARTs) which were recently trialled in ...

Greens urge police to rule out armed police patrols following George Floyd’s death

The Green Party is urging the New Zealand Police to rule out the use of Armed Response Teams, following their recent trial in communities around Ao...

Roadside Drug Testing to be Introduced

Police will be given new powers to conduct random roadside oral fluid drug testing to deter, detect and prosecute drugged drivers in order to save ...

IPCA report into Hager case highlights threats to media independence

Today’s Independent Policy Conduct Authority (IPCA) report into the 2014 raid on Nicky Hager’s home confirms that Police conduct was wrong and over...