July 06, 2016
Attack on gang volunteer hateful
A Black Power kaumatua says Corrections Minister Judith Collins has descended to the politics of hate in barring a gang member from volunteering at Whanganui Prison.
Social entrepreneur Dennis O’Reilly says Ngapari Nui has shown himself to be a good man and a leader who has shown that perople involved in gangs can be the source of positive change.
His work at the prison over the past half dozen years has the backing of his Nga Rauru iwi, which makes Minister Collins’ high-handed action a contemporary breach of the Treaty of Waitangi.
"What Ngapari does is build a future where young Maori people will be doctors and teachers and scientists, business people and entrepreneurs rather than gang members so it's not only crass and stupid but it is the politics, of hate, it is the politics of exclusion," Mr O’Reilly says.
He would like to see the case taken to the Waitangi Tribunal, along with other recent policy changes like the three strikes legislation.
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