From RNZ · RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa · · 1m 20s
Greens' Marama Davidson defends gang meetings amid election backlash
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson insists election meetings with gang members are vital for community safety.
In brief
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson insists election meetings with gang members are vital for community safety. Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson defends meeting with gang members as part of community outreach despite Labour leader Chris Hipkins ruling the Greens out of key portfolios. Originally reported by RNZ.
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson
Marama Davidson doubles down on meeting with gang members during election campaign.
“We don't change who we are as a political party just for the campaign, you know”
Labour leader Chris Hipkins condemns
Labour leader Chris Hipkins rules out Greens and Te Pāti Māori from police and corrections portfolios.
“We don't change who we are as a political party just for the campaign, you know”
Labour campaign chair Willie Jackson
Willie Jackson calls meeting with Mongrel Mob a poor strategic move for Labour.
“You do not hand the government something, who are absolutely desperate at the moment, desperate, and then all of a sudden you go and have a campaign meeting with the, come on, with the Mob”
Hipkins on policy incompatibility
Hipkins says Greens and Te Pāti Māori policies are incompatible with Labour's approach.
“There are fundamental differences of approach there .... I'm quite comfortable with the decision that I took”
Davidson defends community outreach
Davidson says Greens engage with marginalized communities to prevent crime.
“We have to engage with the very people who are pushed to the margins. We have to, and the Greens have always done that”
Davidson on preventing harm
Davidson acknowledges harm from gang violence but insists party supports community-led initiatives.
“I acknowledge that harm, and we want to prevent that harm”
Hipkins on gang growth
Hipkins states gang membership grew three times faster than police numbers.
“Gang membership has grown faster than Police - three times faster - than the number of Police”
Davidson on gang patch ban
Davidson says Greens will repeal gang patch ban but it's not a priority.
“We certainly do not endorse that”
What happens next
Greens will prioritize reducing bills for low-income households after election.
“We'll go to the election table after the election has happened, and hopefully, with a good, strong mandate, we can prioritise reducing people's power bills, transport bills and kai bills by taxing the super rich”
The key point
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson defends meeting with gang members as part of community outreach despite Labour leader Chris Hipkins ruling the Greens out of key portfolios.
