Kerre Woodham Mornings Podcast Kerre Woodham: Another farmer let down by authorities
Jul 6, 2022
07:45
Another farmer has appeared in court after being let down by police and authorities.
This time it's a Taranaki farmer who fired a shotgun as he ran down his driveway towards a group of boy racers who had parked near his paddock and were allegedly throwing bottles at his bull.
On first hearing, you might think that's a bit of an overreaction. I mean, you don't want a bunch of over-excited young people aggravating your stock sure, but doesn't really warrant bringing out the hidden weaponry in terms of the shotgun until you hear that it wasn't the first time.
There had been groups of oiks gathered outside his property for more than 10 years. For a decade boy racers have plagued the Taranaki district. And despite a couple of deaths, injuries, numerous court cases, damaged police vehicles and a bylaw change, there has been no relief for the many law-abiding citizens who are fed up with the arrogance and the attitude from a generation of boy racers.
There are so many, many examples over the last 20 years of people taking the law into their own hands. It's a sign that people are fed up with being left defenceless.
Either because they live remotely and there simply aren't the resources available from the authorities. I'm sure farming communities have the resources available, but then that's what gets you into trouble.
I don't want it to go to a state where your law reigns supreme because you might think differently to me, you might have a different ideas of what is right and just than I do.
We're all going to have a different idea, that’s why we have common law.
But when it's not being applied, when people feel let down, when people are basically left to their own devices in matters of life and death.
Not just property, but in life and death, then this is going to be the outcome. And that's not a failing of the individuals involved. That is a failing on the police and the authorities.
This time it's a Taranaki farmer who fired a shotgun as he ran down his driveway towards a group of boy racers who had parked near his paddock and were allegedly throwing bottles at his bull.
On first hearing, you might think that's a bit of an overreaction. I mean, you don't want a bunch of over-excited young people aggravating your stock sure, but doesn't really warrant bringing out the hidden weaponry in terms of the shotgun until you hear that it wasn't the first time.
There had been groups of oiks gathered outside his property for more than 10 years. For a decade boy racers have plagued the Taranaki district. And despite a couple of deaths, injuries, numerous court cases, damaged police vehicles and a bylaw change, there has been no relief for the many law-abiding citizens who are fed up with the arrogance and the attitude from a generation of boy racers.
There are so many, many examples over the last 20 years of people taking the law into their own hands. It's a sign that people are fed up with being left defenceless.
Either because they live remotely and there simply aren't the resources available from the authorities. I'm sure farming communities have the resources available, but then that's what gets you into trouble.
I don't want it to go to a state where your law reigns supreme because you might think differently to me, you might have a different ideas of what is right and just than I do.
We're all going to have a different idea, that’s why we have common law.
But when it's not being applied, when people feel let down, when people are basically left to their own devices in matters of life and death.
Not just property, but in life and death, then this is going to be the outcome. And that's not a failing of the individuals involved. That is a failing on the police and the authorities.
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