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.

“This is further proof that the New Zealand police see certain communities as inherently criminal and deserving of surveillance. It undermines the credibility of their work in our justice system” says Green Party spokesperson for Police Golriz Ghahraman.

“We should all be deeply disturbed by this. It is absolutely unbecoming of an institution entrusted to keep all communities safe.”

“This behaviour will not be tolerated. It is important that our tamariki feel safe enough to walk around, without being criminalised because they are Māori,” says Green Party spokesperson for Māori Development Dr Elizabeth Kerekere.

“I am dismayed that our children and young people grow up knowing they are seen by authorities in this way. It affects their wairua and hinengaro (spirituality and mental well-being).

“It is important our justice and police departments correct their perception of Māori, especially our rangatahi, tamariki and mokopuna, if they are serious about honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi as stated in their own strategic plans.

“The Greens will continue to push for all organisations to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and start working with Māori as they have already planned to do.”

“Young people deserve to have trust in their community institutions, instead New Zealand police have harassed, alienated and hurt rangatahi Māori as well as their whānau,” Golriz Ghahraman Green MP commented.

“This kind of racism in policing is why marginalised communities are less likely to report crime, making our communities less safe.”

ENDS

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 Māori Development Announcements

Story

Budget 2022: Greens MP Dr Elizabeth Kerekere says wins for health not enough for Māori or Rainbow

Today Greens Te Mātāwaka Chair and Health Spokesperson, Dr Elizabeth Kerekere, said “The Greens have long campaigned for an independent Māori Healt...

Te Mātāwaka: Greens call for the Government to listen to Māori health experts

Te Mātāwaka caucus support the call from iwi leaders, and Māori providers for a COVID-19 vaccination rate of 95 percent for Māori, Pasifika and oth...

Māori now have a seat at the local government table

The Green Party welcomes the passing of the Local Electorate Act Māori Wards Amendment Bill which ensures Māori have a say on local issues across A...

Story

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...

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 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...