PM and Cabinet deserve tough questions about Mob funding
I AGREE with Chris Cahill of the Police Association and members that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her Cabinet should be asked the difficult questions about donating $2.7 million to ‘‘treat’’ Mongrel Mob members by their own criminal associates, who have actively peddled methamphetamine and cost the police and taxpayers millions of dollars in enforcement costs.
I see the programme involves trips to Narcotics Anonymous, which is free.
Surely if notorious chapter members are so motivated to rehabilitate, they can go and do the garden at the former leader’s house for free, or tidy public gardens but not private yards.
Likewise, they can divert some of their millions in dirty meth money to help their own, and perhaps hand in their stash of illegal firearms they use to murder and assault people.
They also get 10 weeks’ residence, far more than many residential programmes. My patients with similar issues have a wait time of many months to access even basic outpatient counselling.
Gardening and walks on the beach should not be billed as part of a funded programme.
An audit and release of the documentation provided should be made public. The prime minister and Cabinet need to take a hard look at making koha to narcotic traffickers and their associates, and account for their absolute wastage of public monies.
Mike King was right to call out the PM for proudly funding the Mob while denying his trust any funding.
Cromwell
Plaudits for festival
I WOULD like to express thanks and gratitude on behalf of many residents and visitors for an absolutely brilliant New Zealand International Science Festival, held recently in Dunedin.
Congratulations to the executive committee led by president Bridget Irving, all the staff led by director Dan Hendra and every one of the amazing volunteers, all of whom deserve a massive pat on the back.
Not only have you showcased and celebrated science in our community, but I'd imagine that you have inspired many of us to think about how science impacts on our everyday lives.
I for one am looking forward to the 2023 festival already.
Dunedin
Skifields busy anyway
I FIND it interesting that the skifields are moaning about no Aussies (ODT, 21.7.21).
Cardrona is so busy it’s almost impossible to ski properly and safely.
I’ve got a season pass as I live in Wanaka and so far I’ve been up once. It’s mayhem up there.
Wanaka ...................................
BIBLE READING:
For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling. — Psalms 56:13