Crime ‘the issue of by-election’, Luxon says in Hamilton
If next year’s general election is a battle for New Zealand’s soul, then the Hamilton West byelection on December 10 is the battle for hearts – and according to Christopher Luxon who was in Hamilton yesterday, crime is the key question.
The National Party leader spoke to Stuff on Wednesday and called crime, a hot button issue in Hamilton, ‘‘the issue of this byelection.’’
The Government’s response to crime had been lacking, Luxon said.
‘‘We’ve had a government that, frankly, the only justice metric they’ve had is a 30% reduction in the prison population.
‘‘And that would be a great, worthy goal if we had a 30% reduction in crime – but the reality is that’s not the case.’’
Luxon warned that if something wasn’t done, crime ‘‘would become the new normal across New Zealand’’.
Reiterating policy pledges made last month in Hamilton, he said: ‘‘We need to be very tough on gangs. Gangs are not nice people. They are peddling in misery and pain and suffering for their fellow Kiwis.’’
When asked if he thought the social contract, the compact between New Zealanders and the government of the day that defines the rights and responsibilities afforded towards one another, had broken down, Luxon said: ‘‘I think it has.’’
Earlier, Luxon had met with Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, who is visiting the country, to discuss education and defence.
Luxon is taking plenty of policy inspiration from overseas.
He said National’s recent policy announcement banning gang patches had ‘‘come out of what we’ve seen work so well in Western Australia and Queensland’’.
Asked whether the $250,000 spent on each serious young offender under the party’s proposed boot camp scheme would be better spent on a place in a fee-paying school replete with good pastoral care and supervision, he replied: ‘‘We are open to any ideas that get outcomes.’’
Luxon also promised his party would reinstate the three strikes law. And his party would roll out EV charging facilities across the country.