English backtracks on rights comments

Prime Minister Bill English says his deputy got it wrong when she said some people have fewer human rights than others.

On Sunday, National announced an $82 million crackdown on methamphetamine and gangs, which included giving police new powers to search the cars and houses of gang members without a warrant.

Following the announcement, Deputy Prime Minister and National police spokeswoman Paula Bennett said some gang members had ‘‘fewer’’ human rights than others. English then said it was good New Zealand lacked a written constitution as it gave governments flexibility.

However, on Monday morning, the prime minister back-tracked on the comments of his deputy, saying she described the policy incorrectly.

‘‘Sometimes we just don’t say the right thing, that happens,’’ English said.

‘‘It is clearly not the case that some New Zealanders have fewer human rights than others,’’ he said.

‘‘Everyone has human rights in New Zealand.

‘‘They’re based around respect for the integrity of the individual, they’re embedded in our legal system, this is not a policy that erodes human rights.’’

English said he did not believe suspected criminals had fewer human rights than other people.

Bennett, who had taken the lead on the proposed policy, described the policy in the wrong way and had since apologised to English for that, he said.

‘‘She thought she was in a discussion about legal rights, which aren’t the same actually as human rights, and just described it the wrong way ...

‘‘She should have said: this proposal is going to change the legal rights of some gang members under particular circumstances where police can search without a warrant.’’

When asked if Bennett would be issuing an apology, English said he believed she would be happy to admit she described the policy the wrong way.

He would not go as far as saying she would be compelled to issue a public apology, saying: ‘‘She’s the deputy prime minister, she’s quite capable of making a decision like that’’.

Under the policy, announced at the Higher Ground drug rehabilitation centre in West Auckland on Sunday, police would be able to search the houses and cars of known gang members with a previous serious violent conviction, at any time with no warrant under the new law.

‘‘It probably does breach the rights of some of those criminals but they have to have had a serious violent offence behind them already and a firearm charge and on the basis of that we are going ahead with it,’’ Bennett said.

Asked point blank whether she believed criminals had human rights, Bennett replied ‘‘some have fewer human rights than others when they are creating a string of victims.’’

‘‘There is a different standard.’’