Kerre Woodham: Gangs cannot claim to have any legitimacy whatsoever

There are so many stories of courage and community spirit in the wake of crises here and around the world, unfortunately, chaos brings out the worst in people too.

Various chapters of the Mongrel Mob have made much over recent years of the fact that they are community leaders. That they have formed brotherhoods because there is nothing for them in normal society. They say they aren't necessarily criminals, many of them have jobs and pay their taxes, they look after their families, they deserve a seat at the table.

The Government took some of the Mongrel Mob bosses at their word.

Many of them have turned up at hui that have been put on at different marae around the country. The Government gave Harry Tam nearly $3 million for a meth rehab program, the results of which are equivocal.

Now when the chips are down, we can see what sort of men make up the Mongrel Mob. Committing everyday crime is bad enough. Committing crime when a community is at its most vulnerable is utterly despicable. That's why looters are shot overseas. So many people have banded together to help each other out, but so many people have also taken advantage of the natural disaster in Hawkes Bay to loot people of their possessions. And it's not just one or 2, 59 people have already been arrested. 

So really, the gangs simply cannot claim to have any legitimacy whatsoever.

Anybody who bought the line that they have a right to be part of society, hearing Stuart Nash say some people bought into that … you did as Police Minister, as a member of the Government, you bought into that. Let's work with them so we can reach the people during Covid. Let's work with them so they can reach the hard-to-get people who are addicts. You bought into it, Stuart.

I don't think many other people did. Anybody, who has bought the line that they have a right to be part of society, that they actually represent a legitimate constituency will have to accept that it's simply not true. They might argue, oh, look, we can't be responsible for all our members, we're trying.

Sure, fine.

But where are the voices of the gang leaders saying that they condemn this behaviour? That they will stop it among their own ranks? Not one of them has come forward to condemn the actions of their members. Not one of them deserves to be treated as a legitimate member of this community, of this society. 

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