Key Takeaways:
- New Zealand has over 9,000 gang members and thousands of associates, with the government promising a crackdown on gangs.
- The country is facing a rising threat of organised crime, with record busts at the border and a growing gang and meth problem.
- Experts are calling for a new ministerial portfolio to focus on organised crime, citing it as the "number one" threat to national security.
- New Zealand’s prisons are facing a crisis, with overcrowding, tight budgets, and a growing gang and meth problem.
- The police have been criticized for their handling of sex allegations against a former top cop, with a scathing report revealing that the ambitions of a senior police officer were put above the interests of a vulnerable woman.
Introduction to New Zealand’s Underworld
New Zealand’s underworld is a complex and growing problem, with over 9,000 gang members and thousands of associates. The government has promised a crackdown on gangs, banning gang insignia in public, handing police greater powers, and creating laws to disrupt gang gatherings. However, experts are questioning whether these measures are enough to tackle the issue. Jared Savage, a journalist with over 20 years of experience, has written a book called "Underworld" which delves into the country’s dark underbelly of gangs, guns, drugs, and money.
The Rising Threat of Organised Crime
The government has been urged to create a new ministerial portfolio to focus on organised crime, with experts citing it as the "number one" threat to national security. Record busts at the border have revealed that global crime syndicates, including Mexican cartels and outlaw bikie gangs, are targeting New Zealand as a small but lucrative market. Despite this, the country is struggling to tackle the issue, with a growing gang and meth problem. Steve Symon, the chairman of an advisory group, has called for a Minister of Mafias to be appointed to oversee the issue.
Inside New Zealand’s Prisons
New Zealand’s prisons are facing a crisis, with overcrowding, tight budgets, and a growing gang and meth problem. Last year, there were a record-breaking number of assaults on staff, almost double that of seven years ago. There were also over 1,500 prisoner-on-prisoner attacks, the highest annual figure on record. Derek Cheng, a senior reporter at the NZ Herald, has investigated the numbers and found that the prison system is struggling to cope with the growing demand.
The Jevon McSkimming Case
In November, it was revealed that police had ignored sex allegations against a former top cop, Jevon McSkimming, and instead prosecuted a woman for "revenge emails". The woman had sent hundreds of emails accusing McSkimming of being a sexual predator. A scathing report by the police watchdog found that the ambitions of a senior police officer were put above the interests of a vulnerable woman. McSkimming resigned in disgrace and was later charged with possession of objectionable material.
Drugs and Weapons on Facebook Marketplace
A Herald investigation found that at least 56 listings were circulating on Facebook Marketplace offering class A drugs, including magic mushrooms, cannabis, and LSD. This has raised concerns about the sale of illicit goods on social media. Michael Morrah, a senior investigative reporter, has called for greater action to be taken to tackle the issue.
The Marokopa Search
In September, a man police had been hunting for nearly four years was shot and killed in a stand-off on a rural Waikato road. The man, Tom Phillips, had vanished into the Marokopa bush with his three children in 2021. The incident has raised questions about the police’s handling of the situation and the impact on the community. Waitomo District Mayor John Robertson has spoken about how the community has fared and what can be learned from the ordeal.
Conclusion
New Zealand’s underworld is a complex and growing problem, with a rising threat of organised crime, a crisis in the prison system, and concerns about the sale of illicit goods on social media. The government has promised a crackdown on gangs, but experts are questioning whether this is enough. The appointment of a Minister of Mafias has been suggested as a way to tackle the issue, but more needs to be done to address the root causes of the problem. The Front Page, a daily news podcast from the New Zealand Herald, has been exploring these issues and more, and is available to listen to every weekday from 5am.