ZB ZB
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

Heather du Plessis-Allan: Why isn't the Government sending in the Defence Force?

Author
Heather du Plessis-Allan,
Publish Date
Mon, 20 Feb 2023, 7:08PM

Heather du Plessis-Allan: Why isn't the Government sending in the Defence Force?

Author
Heather du Plessis-Allan,
Publish Date
Mon, 20 Feb 2023, 7:08PM

Can anyone explain why the Government hasn’t sent the Defence Force into Hawke’s bay to keep order? 

Clearly people need help, and there clearly aren’t enough police. 

There are reports of looting, people in Puketaphu are manning overnight road blocks to keep looters out. Same apparently in Rissington. 

NewsHub reported last night that as soon as generators arrived, people blockade them with cars to stop them being nicked.

A roading crew had a pistol and sawn-off shot gun pulled on them.

Vodafone's CEO says their generators are being stolen from their cell sites.

Already, 59 people have been arrested for looting and dishonesty so far.

The mayor of Napier says they need more police because there aren’t enough patrols and they can only spare one to help with the road blocks at Puketapu and that isn’t enough, she says.

But she also says she wants the Defence Force in there and she’s been told no, but she doesn’t know why.

Short of a good explanation, we can only guess why the Defence Force isn’t being sent in.

And the most likely reason is because the Government doesn't want soldiers policing Kiwi citizens. It makes them feel uncomfortable.

But that is nonsense.

They were happy to have the Defence Force standing outside MIQ hotels to keep law abiding Kiwis in their rooms during Covid.

The Government used the Defence Force after the Christchurch earthquake to man cordons around the city, there is precedent.

If they don’t want to send in the Defence Force, they're going to have to get real with the number of police they’re sending. 145 extras according to Stuart Nash.

That's not enough.

As ACT has pointed out, the police top brass sent 600 officers in to the Parliamentary protest.

That number for a small lawn in front of Parliament.

Compared to 145 extra police being sent to help in an area so big it stretches from the East Cape all the way down to Southern Hawke’s Bay 

The people on the ground say they need help, and the stories and facts say they need help.

It’s mind-boggling why the Government won’t send them the help.

LISTEN ABOVE

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you