Tapsell tells of backlash

Press, 1 August 1989, Page 4

Tapsell tells of backlash

PA Wellington Some Maori people believe the lawless activity of a small number are leading to a backlash against the majority, the Minister of Police, Mr Tapsell said yesterday. His Labour Party colleague, the Northern Maori member of Parliament, Dr Bruce Gregory, plans to demand that the Government take tough action against gangs, which he said had become a threat to society. Dr Gregory called for the police to be given more powers and for them to recruit more Maori members to control gangs which he said were “going about their business with impunity and making a mockery of the New Zealand way of life.” Speaking on Radio New Zealand’s “Morning Report” programme yesterday, Mr Tapsell declined to comment on the call for tougher action because he did not know what Dr Gregory was specifically suggesting,

but said he supported much of what the M.P. said.

There was a growing view among Maori “that the lawless activity of a minority of Maori people is leading to a severe backlash against the majority,” Mr Tapsell said.

Some younger Maori were also being led into believing that lawlessness was an ideal way of life. Mr Tapsell said he believed Dr Gregory was “expressing the view of the more responsible Maori people.” “Many of those people are concerned, not about individual events but to the trend for young Maori people throughout the country, as a result of gang activity,” Mr Tapsell said.

The Government had already taken some steps to deal with gangs’ “more lawless” acts and had changed the law to make sure they were more severely dealt with when they offended, he said.