Māori justice reform advocate Sir Kim Workman says the recent Ōpōtiki raids represent a regression in addressing gang issues, despite prior improvements.
In October, a nationwide sting operation targeting the Mongrel Mob resulted in 22 arrests in the Bay of Plenty town, with 37 mokopuna witnessing the events across 15 homes.
Workman, who chaired a recent report on police operations and racial biases, says the report shows building respectful relationships is key to cooperation, a principle not reflected in this raid
“Here we see allegations or concerns from wāhine Māori about being strip-searched, about children witnessing, you know, the use of firearms, or policemen wielding firearms. And I think one needs to be very careful to have those difficult conversations with the Police, to make their views known and to raise awareness of what happens when their people are treated in that way,” says Workman.
