April 24, 2024
Gang Bill worse for Māori
The Chief Children’s Commissioner has warned Parliament’s justice select committee a bill banning gang patches and gatherings could disproportionately affect mokopuna Māori and their whānau.
Dr Claire Achmad says 75 percent of gang members are Māori.
“We are concerned therefore about the bill’s potentially discriminatory impact on Māori because of the over representation and Māori in gang membership and we are concerned this will exacerbate the over-representation of Māori in our justice system and therefore we are concerned about the impact this bill may have disproportionately on mokopuna Māori and whānau Māori,” she says.
In early March a Bill of Rights assessment by Attorney-General Judith Collins found the bill would be inconsistent with the rights to expression, association and peaceful assembly.