Collins wants Mob-led rehab scheme inquiry
The National Party is asking the auditor-general to investigate the funding of a controversial $2.75 million drug rehabilitation programme led by a Mongrel Mob member.
The Kahukura programme, a live-in marae-based programme that aimed to support participants to work through past trauma and drug use, serving up to 10 participants over eight weeks in Central Hawke’s Bay, received $2.75m from the Proceeds of Crime fund.
The programme sees participants working in a community garden at the home of the president of the Mongrel Mob’s Notorious chapter, Sonny Smith.
National Party leader Judith Collins said she wrote to the auditor-general on Sunday night requesting an investigation into the funding.
‘‘The money should never have gone to the gang, but what makes it more concerning is that the recipient of the funds is senior Mongrel Mob member Harry Tam and his company H2R,’’ she said. ‘‘This is serious. At best this is a very bad decision from a Government who would rather cosy up to gangs than keep New Zealanders safe.’’
National Party police spokesman Simeon Brown also wrote to the auditor-general over the Chief Human Rights Commissioner’s $200 koha to the Waikato Mongrel Mob.
Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt spoke at an event in May and a koha was laid at the po¯ whiri in line with tikanga or Ma¯ ori custom.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern defended funding the Kahukura scheme last week when she said she was one of the ministers who approved it.
‘‘I’m comfortable because it’s a programme that was not just brought forward by the Ministry of Health. It was supported by Corrections, Police, MSD and the local Hawke’s Bay police, and they would, of course, know more of the programme because it was trialled for a short period of time in 2020.
‘‘I place weight in the local police officer’s view.’’
She said the programme that ran briefly last year resulted in a ‘‘high compliance with court orders’’ and ‘‘showed signs of success’’.
Office of the Auditor General communications adviser Mike Heine said it had received the letters yesterday.
The auditor-general would now look at the information and decide whether to start an inquiry, he said.