I was compelled to send a letter to Police Minister Judith Collins after being contacted by a Chinese constituent who lives in Glen Innes, Auckland, yesterday.
As a Chinese-New Zealander, this man may not look or sound like a Kiwi (according to former National Party Candidate Paul Henry’s summation) but his concerns are genuine and need to be addressed.
The constituent told me of his frustration with the police after having his home broken into eight times over the past three months.
The aftermath of a recent break-in
During September his home was broken into twice in one week with the last break-in on October 1.
The constituent and his family are not only frustrated with the constant break-ins, but also by the response of the police.
On each occasion, the police have taken three and four days to respond and after taking fingerprints and doing a scene examination, no follow up has occurred.
The constituent is unemployed and every break-in adds to the financial pressure on the family. The man tells me that his family are living in a constant state of fear and anxiety.
The family has not only lost property through the burglaries but the house has suffered damage with broken windows, kicked in walls and graffiti occurring through the house.
As a New Zealander and Member of Parliament, I’m horrified that this situation is happening in our country. No one should have to live in a state of fear like this man and his family.
I seek a practical response from the Police Minister as to how she intends to deal with this situation.
It’s almost been two years since the NACT Government came into office on the back of a big law and order campaign – but what have they done to help ordinary Kiwis in that time?
How awful
Something needs to be done 
!
So Raymond is he Chinese or a New Zealander?
The fact that he looks and sounds different, does not entitle him to a more speedy service from the police.
It is not unusual for us ordinary looking or sounding citizens to wait three to four days for a response from police when the crime is non violent.
Sideoiler:
So my question to you is my question to the minister: It’s almost been two years since the NACT Government came into office on the back of a big law and order campaign – but what have they done to help ordinary Kiwis in that time?
Raymond if you’d be kind enough to answer my question first.
The Police are to busy giving out tickets instead, that actually makes money
it surprising how many cops are standing around doing nothing all day but giving tickets. They could be doing something more useful
Dear Sideoiler:
If your begging-the-question type of logic concludes that the man being the Chinese-Kiwi does entitle him to the same service avaialble to an “original” Kiwi, I thank you for your such position.
The issue here is no matter who they are in this situation, what we as a nation can do to help. Nobody would be feeling proud that “It is not unusual for us [...] to wait three to four days for a response from police when the crime is non violent.”
BTW, as Labour’s Spokesperson for Statistics I am obliged to report that crime went up in 2009. Murders were up by 25% and violent crime by 8% per capita.
It’s OK Raymond, it’s all Falun Gong’s fault.
Still not answered the question Raymond.
I am interested as to why you found it necessary to describe him as “Chinese constituent”, and then as a “Chinese New Zealander” or as anything other than a New Zealander if that is in fact the case.I would have thought it unwise to do so in light of the recent uproar over comments made on breakfast television.
Are you saying that he is not getting the service he should because he looks and sounds different, or are you saying he should be treated differently because he is a different kind of New Zealander.
sideoiler overlooks the obvious that the repeated events mean this can no longer be treated as a low-priority crime , eg a one-off burglary with no clear leads. It is now so frequent it needs to be given high priority – at a minimum as aggravated anti-social behaviour, but probably as a hate crime as it is unlikely the break-ins are random.
What has this got to do with the Minister? It’s an operational matter and so outside of her responsibility.
Sorry Dorothy, you’ve got me as confused as sideoiler, are you now saying that not only does he not get the same response from the police because he is a “different kind of new zealander” but also the lowlifes who rob him are guilty of “hate crimes”.
Question for you – if the scumbags are of something other than pakeha ethnicity and rob a pakeha repeatedly, is that a “hate crime”?
a hate crime is a hate crime. Sorry if some people find the concept too complicated…
@Dorothy
I doubt it hate crime, they want to just rob a ‘Chinese’ person! These sort of people (99% of them apart from WP) will take anything they can get there hands on. Doesn’t a matter what or who you are. Most thieves often target a house at random, and if your wealth then you will definitely become a target.
Regardless I thought national was magically going to fix this issue. Not F* likely. Some much for law and order, only when it suits them.
@CV
Crusher’s crusade is more about p*****g the inmates off by taking away their ciggies and making them double bunk! 
I have a temperature and aching body, spacey etc
@Radman – the minister is accountable for ensuring that the police perform against a set of criteria that will be agreed each year by the minister – in much the same way as Ryall has cur back on prevention for ‘measurable targets’ like hip replacements, Tolley is butchering National Standards, etc…
“As a New Zealander and Member of Parliament, I’m horrified that this situation is happening in our country. No one should have to live in a state of fear like this man and his family.” Agreed with this senitament Raymond, by the way I was involved (on being broken onto) 3 times within 8 days (Both neighbours also had the same situation), this occurred 4 years ago. Same scenario, one the 2nd occassion neighbour received a visit from police, when approached by my neighbour and myself of the reported breakins, I was informed that our “experiences” were not recorded. On the 3rd time within a week the policeman consolidated all 3 breakins into 1 event. (I had the idea that this was for 2 reasons – under report statistics and save police officer time). On both occassions the policemen were very curtious and had empathy.
Now why should your post stress this poor mans ethnicity, are not ALL who have the misfortune to have this type of experience be treated the same, and unfortunately for this family he WAS treated the same as our neighbourhood both under Lab and Nat
NZ criminals do target Asian immigrants that’s well-known (apparently not by some here). That’s certainly an element in this poor guy’s situation. They count on the fact a. Chinese-born Kiwis are less likely to go to the police .b the police are less likely to do anything both because of workload AND the cultural communication problems. Both are supported by data, this is one reason why NZ police are on a drive to recruit Asian New Zealanders into their ranks.
Apparently you’re outraged that a “Chinese-looking” MP dare point out those elements of racism exist in the guys situation. (That or mad he made a dig at your poster-boy-for racists Paul Henry?) Note: NOT outraged at the racism or the crime.
Bummer — that’s a stunningly bad burg rate. How do they keep getting in? (Retorical)
Makes me glad to live on the North Shore. We’re just better people here (said with tounge slightly cheek, just to head off the outraged comments).
It really was a joke, Spud.
Hope you feel better soon.
Thanks man
I feel better now 
“It’s almost been two years since the NACT Government came into office on the back of a big law and order campaign – but what have they done to help ordinary Kiwis in that time?”
“BTW, as Labour’s Spokesperson for Statistics I am obliged to report that crime went up in 2009. Murders were up by 25% and violent crime by 8% per capita.”
Robbery, unlawful entry, theft, fraud, regulated weapons offences and property damage went down though eh (according to June 2010 stats on police website). Your constituent presumably falls into one or more of these categories. Total crime went down too.
Raymond your representation of a constituent is admirable regardless of how the person is classified, which in my opinion is not the heart of the matter.
From my observations Police react to pressure and celebs or public figures get much quicker attention which insulates them from the overload of Police which is policy driven.
If you believe Nact about Law and Order then fairies may be a surer bet.
Resources stripped away while from public services including Police while tax cuts for the rich who can afford their own security measures but get a degree of preferential Police attention becomes accepted.
The root causes of crime are ignored and even aggravated by Nact as employment drops with wages, and inequity mushrooms.
Start asking the harder questions in the house and get your community newspapers speaking out about the root causes as well as the slack stripping of community services through reduction of funding, training and social cohesion managed by Nact. You must get public notice of your points and that needs to be through out your community and into the wider world. Public media are absolutely slack but will pick up some racial issues which is sensationalism and slack as such.
It is not a racial issue but a demographic one from both sides of crime.
Raymond, I don’ think your constituent is being treated any differently than any ordinary NZ’er, and nor do I think police priorities have changed along with the change of government.
I suggest your constituent would get a prompt police response if he was to suggest he knows who did it and he is about to go and sort them out himself. The police will be there within the hour (as opposed to the typical 3 days for a burglary after the fact).
Unfortunately the prime reason for the police to investigate any burglary is to verify that it is not a case of insurance fraud (i.e their man role is to check out whether your constituent is also the perpetrator). Once they’re satisfied of that then apart from putting the details in the system they have no further reason to investigate (cost benefit analysis).
Hi Raymond,
As you are Labour’s Spokesperson for Statistics I am obliged to tell you that I suffered a break in in 2007, and it took 4 days for the police to come and do a scene examination.
As an aside, my race is irrelevant to the discussion. As is your constituent.
Should read:
“As an aside, my race is irrelevant to the discussion. As is your constituent’s”