Increasing gang activity

It is a sad day when a gang (Black Power) is able to just move on to a property and claim manawhenua status, build a house without the relevant consent and the courts, and the trustees of Rohotu Block are threatened to conform.

The people in Waitara are still getting over the death of Mr Montgomerie whose home on the Rohotu Block and himself were burnt to the ground only hours after confronting the Black Power. We all have our alleged suspicions. Most town folks do not agree with the behaviour of Mr Moore and agree that he and his gang should be evicted immediately.

The Waitara police station is no longer staffed at the same level as it previously was, which leaves us here at the mercy of thugs.

We have the Highway 61 that have moved in and the Black Power, with the numbers growing daily. Be mindful, this is the same gang (Black Power) that shot Mr Crean through the window of his home - they’ve shown no remorse whatsoever.

Therefore Mr Bedford’s comments that we in Waitara just get on with our business regardless shows clearly that violence in Waitara is now normalised though his comments.

The gang conflict on Norman St in Waitara is an example of normalising violence in a town that no longer has as much police presence. The drug trade in Waitara is getting worse and the police do nothing.

I do not agree with the comments made by police through Mr Matuku that the violence and drug trade is a Taranaki issue, it is a Waitara issue as well, with high unemployment and no jobs we are seeing an increase in violence and drugs. People are scared. It goes to show that crime does pay. William Simpson

Waitara