WEBVTT - Reissue: Mark Mitchell on police trust, protests, and protecting minorities

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<v Speaker 1>Kyota at Chelsea Daniels here, host of the Front Page.

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<v Speaker 1>We're taking away breakover summer, but to help build the gap,

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<v Speaker 1>we're re issuing some of our most significant episodes of

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<v Speaker 1>twenty twenty five on behalf of the Front Page team.

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<v Speaker 1>Thanks for listening and we look forward to being back

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<v Speaker 1>with you on January twelfth, twenty twenty six. Just a

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<v Speaker 1>quick note, this interview with Mark Mitchell was recorded prior

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<v Speaker 1>to the Tongedito fire. Kyota, I'm Chelsea Daniels and this

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<v Speaker 1>is The Front Page, a daily podcast presented by the

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<v Speaker 1>New Zealand Herald. Mark Mitchell has heralded the government's promise

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<v Speaker 1>to be tough on crime. He's been incredibly clear from

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<v Speaker 1>the get go that his primary goal is to make

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<v Speaker 1>New Zealand an uncomfortable place for gangs to operate. He

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<v Speaker 1>holds five portfolios, Police correct Actions, Emergency Management and Recovery,

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<v Speaker 1>Ethnic communities, and Sports and Recreation. So how does an

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<v Speaker 1>MP with so many hats feel about how his government

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<v Speaker 1>has tackled the big issues? Today on the Front Page,

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<v Speaker 1>Mitchell joins us to talk cops, corrections and communities. So,

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<v Speaker 1>first off, Mark, you're very looking, very comfortable whereabouts are you?

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<v Speaker 2>I'm a marrying you Bay Beach, Marrying.

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<v Speaker 3>You Bay Beach and whereabouts? Just right on the beach there.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I'm sitting right on the beach and this is

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<v Speaker 2>the beach that this is the when I was a kid.

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<v Speaker 2>This is where I grew up in that surf plub.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't know if you can see the surf club. Yeah, yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>that was my surf club. So it's not actually my

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<v Speaker 2>electric because I ran at a time. I was trying

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<v Speaker 2>to get back up to my pitch, but I ran

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<v Speaker 2>out of time, so I thought I'll go and sit

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<v Speaker 2>down of Marrying You Bay Beach and do the podcast

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<v Speaker 2>and Chelsea down there.

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<v Speaker 1>So Mark, we've seen a skin this year at the

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<v Speaker 1>top of the police chain.

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<v Speaker 3>There's no denying that.

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<v Speaker 1>Are you confident the public still has trust in the

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<v Speaker 1>New Zealand Police.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, I hope that they do maintain trusted in New

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<v Speaker 2>Zealand Police because without a doubt we have got a

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<v Speaker 2>world class police force and the size of the organization

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<v Speaker 2>that we have, there's always going to be the odd

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<v Speaker 2>rotten apple in the barrel. And look how police officers

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<v Speaker 2>are out there every day, you know, with teens of

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<v Speaker 2>thousands of pocket of actions protecting and supporting their communities,

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<v Speaker 2>the commutes that they serve. And I'd just like to

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<v Speaker 2>say Chelsea that this week I've been to two police

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<v Speaker 2>awards ceremonies and probably seventy five percent of the awards

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<v Speaker 2>that I see handed out to police officers that have

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<v Speaker 2>put themselves in danger saved the lives of members of

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<v Speaker 2>the public. When you see bad behavior from a police officer,

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<v Speaker 2>there's no one feels it more deeply than those thousands

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<v Speaker 2>of both our sworn and non sworn staff that are

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<v Speaker 2>out there she holding to and the values and ideals

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<v Speaker 2>of our New Zealand police. None feels are more deeply

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<v Speaker 2>than them when there's someone that doesn't hold to those values.

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<v Speaker 1>Is it concerning to you, though, that that rotten if

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<v Speaker 1>we're talking about rotten apples, that one of the rotten

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<v Speaker 1>apples nearly got the top police job ally was in

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<v Speaker 1>contention for the top police job in this country.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, that's of course, that's a genuine concern, and I

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<v Speaker 2>acknowledge that. All I'd say is that as the incoming

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<v Speaker 2>Police Minister, there were quite a few issues that I

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<v Speaker 2>had to view with and one of them was this

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<v Speaker 2>case and I'm sorry that I can't talk to the

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<v Speaker 2>detail on a Chelsea, but it's actually the case although

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<v Speaker 2>there has been a guilty plea put in that's still

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<v Speaker 2>before the courts for seniencings. Though I can't talk to

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<v Speaker 2>the case directly.

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<v Speaker 3>That's a good one. We'll move on to crime statistics.

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<v Speaker 1>They show a sharp drop in alcohol related violent crime

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<v Speaker 1>since June twenty twenty four to May this year. The

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<v Speaker 1>fallen alcohol involved offending accounted for actually sixty five percent

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<v Speaker 1>of the total drop in violent offending. Should the government

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<v Speaker 1>do more to curb alcohol related crime?

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<v Speaker 3>Do you think?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah? I think that. You know, alcohol and drugs have

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<v Speaker 2>always been a huge degravating factor in terms of the

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<v Speaker 2>perpetration of violent crime. Education has to continue to be

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<v Speaker 2>a big part of that. You know. The police are

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<v Speaker 2>obviously run very effective road safety programs to make our

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<v Speaker 2>roads safe. You know, we've driven down the rates of

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<v Speaker 2>drunk driving significantly. And there's always differently, there's different things

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<v Speaker 2>that police are looking at doing and providing device Who's

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<v Speaker 2>justice officials in terms of how we can continue to

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<v Speaker 2>make change. Is that balance up people's right, the responsible

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<v Speaker 2>drinkers to have access to alcohol and be able to

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<v Speaker 2>enjoy that responsibly against the ones that aren't responsible and

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<v Speaker 2>public safety.

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<v Speaker 1>New Zealand's prison population where is hitting record highs?

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<v Speaker 3>Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

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<v Speaker 2>Look, I think any society would agree that we don't

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<v Speaker 2>want that. We'd love to not have prisons, and we'd

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<v Speaker 2>love to have everyone that lives in our societies and

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<v Speaker 2>our communities respect one another and not hurt or perpetrate

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<v Speaker 2>violent crime against the people in society that are lawabiding.

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<v Speaker 2>But unfortunately, as long as humans have been roaming this earth,

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<v Speaker 2>that hasn't been the case. And so we've been very

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<v Speaker 2>clear as the end up in government that we are

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<v Speaker 2>prioritizing public safety that if we have people in our society,

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<v Speaker 2>in our communities that don't want to stick to the laws,

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<v Speaker 2>they want to hurt people, then you know they are

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<v Speaker 2>going to end up and they keep assisted in that

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<v Speaker 2>sort of behavior, then they are going to end up

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<v Speaker 2>in prison. And our correction is still things because we

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<v Speaker 2>want law of bodies to feel safe.

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<v Speaker 1>Does it mean the government's stance on being tough on

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<v Speaker 1>crime is actually working.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, it's working in the sense that the targets that

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<v Speaker 2>we sent into a rejuction and victimizations. We've already met that,

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<v Speaker 2>in fact exceeded that. And of course you'd have to

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<v Speaker 2>look at our response as a government, which includes increased

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<v Speaker 2>We've made sentencing much toper. We have reduced the discounts

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<v Speaker 2>that were allowed from you know, you've seen discounts of

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<v Speaker 2>seventy eighty percent. We get that at forty percent. And

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<v Speaker 2>like I said, we've just as an incoming government, we

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<v Speaker 2>have and as the three parties as a coalition, as

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<v Speaker 2>a coalition government, have been very clear that we are

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<v Speaker 2>prioritizing public safety.

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<v Speaker 3>What if it's working too well.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, we've already hit the population estimates within about

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<v Speaker 1>ten nine hundred behind bars. Will there be more money

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<v Speaker 1>in the kiddy next year to address how many people

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<v Speaker 1>are actually going to prison?

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<v Speaker 2>Yes, so as of yesterday it is about ten eight

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<v Speaker 2>hundred in the prison muster and directions to an outstanding

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<v Speaker 2>job that is literally a daily event. And to make

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<v Speaker 2>sure that you know that we're that everyone is in

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<v Speaker 2>the right place and that we're dealing with capacity and riches,

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<v Speaker 2>doing outstanding job of that. Will the government continue to

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<v Speaker 2>invest into public safety? Absolutely, because although there is a cost,

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<v Speaker 2>of course in incarcerating people and having them in the

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<v Speaker 2>correction system. There is a much greater human cost and

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<v Speaker 2>even economic costs to have them out in society, creating

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<v Speaker 2>with victims and the have it that they create, and

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<v Speaker 2>the trail of tears that are often sitting behind that

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<v Speaker 2>behavior and that from offending.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, critics argue that prioritizing longer sentences I see does

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<v Speaker 1>not actually reduce reoffending rates.

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<v Speaker 3>How would you respond to.

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<v Speaker 2>That, Well, the only way you're going to reduce reoffending

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<v Speaker 2>rates is when those offenders genuinely want to change. They

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<v Speaker 2>genuinely want to embrace making good decisions. They genuinely want

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<v Speaker 2>to embrace and see what opportunity just apport for them

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<v Speaker 2>in this country. They genuinely want to embrace the training

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<v Speaker 2>that is offered and the support that's offered them to

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<v Speaker 2>come back and reintegrate with society in a positive way. Ultimately,

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<v Speaker 2>that is how your drive changes, each individual wanting to

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<v Speaker 2>make those changes in their lives and not wanting to

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<v Speaker 2>make bad decisions and make all the excuses for those

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<v Speaker 2>bad decisions. All that we can do is a country

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<v Speaker 2>in the state is provide them with the mechanism to

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<v Speaker 2>be able to do that. And I know that we've

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<v Speaker 2>got a big focus. In fact, we put seventy million

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<v Speaker 2>dollars additional money into rehabilitation programs in our correction services

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<v Speaker 2>so that we give them the ability of the best

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<v Speaker 2>fighting charts and when they do come out, they do

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<v Speaker 2>make good decisions. But ultimately, Chelsea, it comes to under

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<v Speaker 2>personal responsibility. It comes down to each one of those

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<v Speaker 2>individuals wanting to make change and until they do, until

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<v Speaker 2>they actually want to make change. In my view and

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<v Speaker 2>my opinion and my experience, you can throw all the goodwill,

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<v Speaker 2>all the programs and all the investment you want at

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<v Speaker 2>those people. They will not change until they want to.

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<v Speaker 4>As I said before, gangs are not nice people. Minister

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<v Speaker 4>man Sure, Minister Goldsmith and I campaign on cracking down

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<v Speaker 4>on gangs and making their life as uncomfortable as possible,

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<v Speaker 4>and that is exactly why we have passed the laws.

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<v Speaker 4>We have to ban all gang patches and insignia in

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<v Speaker 4>public places to empower the police to stop criminal gangs

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<v Speaker 4>from associating and communicating with each other, enabling the courts

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<v Speaker 4>to issue non consulting orders to gang members, and we're

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<v Speaker 4>ensuring that greater weight as given to gang membership at

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<v Speaker 4>sentencing as well, enabling the courts to enact even more

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<v Speaker 4>severe punishments.

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<v Speaker 1>I remember when you first became police minister, you actually

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<v Speaker 1>offered up you know, you were offering up people your

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<v Speaker 1>personal phone number to see you know, if you do

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<v Speaker 1>want to say, leave a gang, I will personally help you.

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<v Speaker 1>Has anyone taken you up on that offer?

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<v Speaker 2>No, I haven't had any. Yes, you're right that I

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<v Speaker 2>have headed out my number two gang members that have

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<v Speaker 2>indicated to me that they do want to lead change,

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<v Speaker 2>they do want to make change, especially those gang members

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<v Speaker 2>with families. So that we've because you know, the most

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<v Speaker 2>important thing we can do is break that into generational

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<v Speaker 2>gang membership. The impacts so negatively on the children that

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<v Speaker 2>are born into that environment, you know. So yes, of

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<v Speaker 2>course someone stand by always to help those that genuinely

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<v Speaker 2>want to make change, especially those with children. But the

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<v Speaker 2>flip side of it is is policemenner. So I've also

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<v Speaker 2>been very clear that to help affect that change, if

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<v Speaker 2>we have to make it very difficult to be a

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<v Speaker 2>game member in New Zealan, to be part of organized crime,

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<v Speaker 2>to be part of a group that inflicts a massive

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<v Speaker 2>disproportionate with them out of palm on our communities. We're

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<v Speaker 2>going to continue to do that as well, and the

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<v Speaker 2>police are being very effective of doing that.

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<v Speaker 1>How do you reckon the gang patch band's been going.

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<v Speaker 2>It's been hugely successful, it's been very effective. The feedback.

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<v Speaker 2>I've just come from a public meeting right now where

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<v Speaker 2>the feedback and the public's been extremely positive. And the

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<v Speaker 2>frontline police office themselves are really enjoying having those powers

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<v Speaker 2>so they can reassert themselves and the public can see

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<v Speaker 2>that our police are controlling the streets and not be

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<v Speaker 2>in that awful position that we were three years ago

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<v Speaker 2>where the gangs we're we're controlling the streets where they're

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<v Speaker 2>coming out and taking over the public places, intimidating them

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<v Speaker 2>from the public, taking over our provincial towns where they

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<v Speaker 2>were shutting down public rights in the public at pittstonchol

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<v Speaker 2>You haven't seen here that in the last two years

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<v Speaker 2>because the police have been so effective and putting together

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<v Speaker 2>gain disruption units and making sure that they're proactive and

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<v Speaker 2>using the new gang legislation. You know, it's a good

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<v Speaker 2>thing that people don't see gag pictures around anymore because

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<v Speaker 2>they're quite silly, designed to scier and in terminates people.

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<v Speaker 1>So we'll move on to your capacity as Minister for

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<v Speaker 1>Ethnic Communities, and I know that this is one that

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<v Speaker 1>you probably haven't been asked about as often as your

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<v Speaker 1>your breadth of other portfolios, I suppose.

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<v Speaker 3>But in that capacity you condemned.

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<v Speaker 1>The Destiny Church march against foreign religions that was back

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<v Speaker 1>in June. It's pretty bone chilling to see such a

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<v Speaker 1>display in New Zealand and on our streets here. Do

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<v Speaker 1>you think what's happening overseas? And I'm thinking of those

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<v Speaker 1>images of you know, Nazis walking down streets in Melbourne,

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<v Speaker 1>for example. Do you think that's spilling over slowly to

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<v Speaker 1>New Zealand and are you worried?

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<v Speaker 2>Well, I'm working really hard as Minister of Ethnic Community

0:12:25.259 --> 0:12:28.498
<v Speaker 2>to fortify itself as a company. And we've got you know,

0:12:28.699 --> 0:12:32.619
<v Speaker 2>we've got such diversity in our country. We've got leaders

0:12:32.858 --> 0:12:35.819
<v Speaker 2>in every single one of our ethnic communities and our

0:12:35.858 --> 0:12:39.619
<v Speaker 2>faith and religious leaders that completely bind to the fact

0:12:39.659 --> 0:12:43.499
<v Speaker 2>that we should always protect what is so fundamentally important

0:12:43.498 --> 0:12:46.619
<v Speaker 2>to democracy, and that is the freedom protest and the

0:12:46.618 --> 0:12:49.299
<v Speaker 2>freedom of speech. But we can do that in a

0:12:49.338 --> 0:12:52.779
<v Speaker 2>peaceful and tolerant way. And a big part of what

0:12:52.819 --> 0:12:55.138
<v Speaker 2>I've been doing is Minister of Ethnic Communities. It's working

0:12:55.139 --> 0:12:57.939
<v Speaker 2>across all of our communities, all of our faith leaders,

0:12:58.539 --> 0:13:01.859
<v Speaker 2>reinforcing that message around social conhesion, making sure that we

0:13:01.899 --> 0:13:04.059
<v Speaker 2>don't see that type of violence start to wash up

0:13:04.338 --> 0:13:07.458
<v Speaker 2>on our own shores here in New Zealand. Be mindful

0:13:07.498 --> 0:13:10.539
<v Speaker 2>of the fact that we will see that we've seen

0:13:10.578 --> 0:13:13.939
<v Speaker 2>so much conflict and the vision around the world at

0:13:13.978 --> 0:13:16.299
<v Speaker 2>the moment that we've got to work extra hard and

0:13:16.338 --> 0:13:18.539
<v Speaker 2>making sure that if we have a community in our

0:13:19.059 --> 0:13:20.939
<v Speaker 2>and how if we have a community in New Zealand

0:13:20.939 --> 0:13:24.339
<v Speaker 2>that feels unsafe or it's fearful, that we reaped support

0:13:24.338 --> 0:13:26.338
<v Speaker 2>around them and do what we can to make sure

0:13:26.379 --> 0:13:27.018
<v Speaker 2>that we deal.

0:13:26.858 --> 0:13:29.179
<v Speaker 1>With that as part of this portfolio. And I guess

0:13:29.259 --> 0:13:32.539
<v Speaker 1>your role as Police Minister as well. Have you received

0:13:32.578 --> 0:13:36.978
<v Speaker 1>any advice from your Australian counterparts about what the stark rise.

0:13:37.059 --> 0:13:39.218
<v Speaker 3>In this kind of thing happening in Victoria?

0:13:39.659 --> 0:13:41.379
<v Speaker 2>No, I haven't, but we can all see it and

0:13:41.379 --> 0:13:44.339
<v Speaker 2>I had been out to Victoria recently. I was out

0:13:44.379 --> 0:13:48.419
<v Speaker 2>there a month ago with our permissioner for the for

0:13:48.498 --> 0:13:52.738
<v Speaker 2>the service of the plan. Victorian police officers out there,

0:13:53.218 --> 0:13:54.939
<v Speaker 2>but you can see it out of the streets, and

0:13:54.978 --> 0:13:58.578
<v Speaker 2>of course yes I came out and condemned Brian Tommockey

0:13:58.819 --> 0:14:01.539
<v Speaker 2>and the Destiny persh because they have a right to

0:14:01.578 --> 0:14:05.218
<v Speaker 2>get out there and the freedom to focus like everyone does.

0:14:06.179 --> 0:14:09.578
<v Speaker 2>But that turned into really what everyone considered was over violence.

0:14:09.578 --> 0:14:14.619
<v Speaker 2>When you start ripping flags, specifically targeting different communities and

0:14:14.699 --> 0:14:18.498
<v Speaker 2>stabbing them, that scares people. That is actually frightening, and

0:14:19.539 --> 0:14:22.819
<v Speaker 2>so they should actually reflect on the way that they

0:14:22.859 --> 0:14:25.299
<v Speaker 2>are carrying out those protests. So that applies to any

0:14:25.339 --> 0:14:27.459
<v Speaker 2>group in New Zealand. There's a way to be a

0:14:27.739 --> 0:14:31.299
<v Speaker 2>out the protest to get your messapacity from without resorting

0:14:31.339 --> 0:14:34.659
<v Speaker 2>this sort of over violent x and in the ripping

0:14:34.699 --> 0:14:37.339
<v Speaker 2>and burning the flags and trying to scare people.

0:14:43.699 --> 0:14:47.459
<v Speaker 5>There is aspects of speech which should not be allowed.

0:14:47.499 --> 0:14:52.499
<v Speaker 5>For example, people who you know say you should kill

0:14:52.979 --> 0:14:55.819
<v Speaker 5>Chelsea Daniels. She's a very bad person and she deserves it.

0:14:55.819 --> 0:14:57.659
<v Speaker 5>You probably have to edit this out. I mean, that's

0:14:58.859 --> 0:15:01.538
<v Speaker 5>all right now. That would be wrong and it's a

0:15:01.579 --> 0:15:05.379
<v Speaker 5>horrible thing to say, and arguably incitement. There are legitimate

0:15:05.419 --> 0:15:08.939
<v Speaker 5>restrictions on speech, but what's not a legitimate restriction on

0:15:09.059 --> 0:15:14.619
<v Speaker 5>speech is saying you can't say that because it's hateful

0:15:14.819 --> 0:15:17.499
<v Speaker 5>or it will offend someone or hurt someone's feelings, because

0:15:17.779 --> 0:15:21.099
<v Speaker 5>as soon as you give someone in society the power

0:15:21.139 --> 0:15:25.379
<v Speaker 5>to enforce that, it becomes impossible to restrain that power.

0:15:28.179 --> 0:15:29.819
<v Speaker 1>Do you think there needs to be better laws in

0:15:29.859 --> 0:15:34.339
<v Speaker 1>place that clearly outlines I guess what determines free speech

0:15:34.379 --> 0:15:36.139
<v Speaker 1>and what determines hate speech.

0:15:36.219 --> 0:15:38.939
<v Speaker 3>Perhaps because that's a really tricky area, isn't it.

0:15:39.339 --> 0:15:42.819
<v Speaker 2>Yes, And we shouldn't go down that rabbit hole. That's

0:15:42.819 --> 0:15:45.939
<v Speaker 2>a whole other Well, it is, it is, and the

0:15:45.979 --> 0:15:47.658
<v Speaker 2>reality of it is is that we must protect the

0:15:47.739 --> 0:15:51.139
<v Speaker 2>freedom to the freet to a speech in this country

0:15:51.179 --> 0:15:53.179
<v Speaker 2>because the minute you try to start to unfringe on that,

0:15:53.219 --> 0:15:56.459
<v Speaker 2>where do you start? When he's gone and we all

0:15:56.459 --> 0:15:59.739
<v Speaker 2>have the right to exercise our free speech. Destiny Church

0:16:00.579 --> 0:16:02.899
<v Speaker 2>chose to exercise their right pre speech in the way

0:16:02.979 --> 0:16:05.658
<v Speaker 2>that they did, and I chose to exercise my right

0:16:05.779 --> 0:16:07.779
<v Speaker 2>pre speech by coming out condemning what they did.

0:16:07.899 --> 0:16:11.579
<v Speaker 1>What's been your biggest achievement in any of your portfolios

0:16:11.659 --> 0:16:13.539
<v Speaker 1>while in governments so far?

0:16:14.179 --> 0:16:17.099
<v Speaker 2>Ah, Look, that's a really good question. Look, I'm very

0:16:17.099 --> 0:16:19.379
<v Speaker 2>proud of the work that we're doing in the way

0:16:19.379 --> 0:16:22.579
<v Speaker 2>that our police force has responded to our new set

0:16:22.619 --> 0:16:24.778
<v Speaker 2>of priorities when we came into government. I just think

0:16:24.819 --> 0:16:26.819
<v Speaker 2>the work they're doing, it's quite still the outstanding, the

0:16:27.099 --> 0:16:29.898
<v Speaker 2>anecdotal feedback I get from the public, the results that

0:16:29.939 --> 0:16:33.419
<v Speaker 2>we've seen starting to flow through. You know, I'm just

0:16:33.459 --> 0:16:35.979
<v Speaker 2>so proud of what they're doing and what they're achieving.

0:16:37.139 --> 0:16:40.339
<v Speaker 2>Emergency management. You know, I've had nineteen local states emergencies

0:16:40.339 --> 0:16:43.619
<v Speaker 2>since I've big Minister. We are making fundamental change in

0:16:43.619 --> 0:16:45.379
<v Speaker 2>the way that we look at and approach these things.

0:16:45.419 --> 0:16:48.619
<v Speaker 2>We've had report after report after our national states of

0:16:48.659 --> 0:16:52.099
<v Speaker 2>emergency highlighting the issues that we need to change. We're

0:16:52.099 --> 0:16:54.778
<v Speaker 2>doing that. We've got an investment being coming through that

0:16:55.019 --> 0:16:58.339
<v Speaker 2>back the cabinet. We've got new legislation that will provide

0:16:58.419 --> 0:17:01.899
<v Speaker 2>us a solid a platform as a country who operates

0:17:01.899 --> 0:17:07.059
<v Speaker 2>from corrections. Look, without a doubt, I am so proud

0:17:07.299 --> 0:17:10.379
<v Speaker 2>of our correction Service. All of our officers that are

0:17:10.419 --> 0:17:13.619
<v Speaker 2>either in a directions facility or out in the community

0:17:13.699 --> 0:17:16.979
<v Speaker 2>doing community related corrections work with you know, up to

0:17:17.019 --> 0:17:21.299
<v Speaker 2>twenty five to thirty thousand people one time. That is

0:17:21.379 --> 0:17:23.659
<v Speaker 2>such a difficult, challenging job, and they're dealing with some

0:17:23.699 --> 0:17:26.099
<v Speaker 2>of the most violent and difficult people that we have

0:17:26.179 --> 0:17:29.019
<v Speaker 2>in society, and there's a tens of thousands of positive

0:17:29.019 --> 0:17:33.339
<v Speaker 2>actions every week. My big focus there is what simply

0:17:33.379 --> 0:17:37.939
<v Speaker 2>been the delivery of the rehabilitation and an officer Safety

0:17:38.699 --> 0:17:42.779
<v Speaker 2>is doing great work. They've launched two products in the

0:17:42.859 --> 0:17:45.619
<v Speaker 2>last months that two trials that are going that are

0:17:45.699 --> 0:17:48.699
<v Speaker 2>very effective. Expect to report back on one of those,

0:17:49.339 --> 0:17:52.379
<v Speaker 2>Sport and Wreck. You know, that's that's a good.

0:17:52.179 --> 0:17:54.459
<v Speaker 1>I forgot about that one.

0:17:55.019 --> 0:17:58.819
<v Speaker 3>You've got your juggling so many hats, Mark, do you.

0:17:58.819 --> 0:18:06.898
<v Speaker 1>Sleep, yes, occasionally, you must be all over the place.

0:18:07.419 --> 0:18:09.139
<v Speaker 2>I've got a great team, and I'm very lucky, and

0:18:09.339 --> 0:18:11.339
<v Speaker 2>I've got a team that's been med the entire two

0:18:11.419 --> 0:18:14.178
<v Speaker 2>years and and I could not do them them do

0:18:14.259 --> 0:18:15.979
<v Speaker 2>it without them, And they're they're right behind me the

0:18:16.019 --> 0:18:20.219
<v Speaker 2>whole time, and they deserve huge recognition. And I've and

0:18:20.219 --> 0:18:24.059
<v Speaker 2>and great chief executives and and you know, so you know,

0:18:24.619 --> 0:18:27.099
<v Speaker 2>I'm very very lucky. And that's that's enabling and it

0:18:27.139 --> 0:18:31.459
<v Speaker 2>makes a minister's job much easier. I'm just trying to

0:18:31.459 --> 0:18:33.739
<v Speaker 2>think po lift out there. We've got police, we've got friction,

0:18:33.979 --> 0:18:39.859
<v Speaker 2>we've got a gifted community. If yeah, I mean that

0:18:39.979 --> 0:18:43.379
<v Speaker 2>they're all just they're all fantastic agencies. And you know,

0:18:43.459 --> 0:18:45.819
<v Speaker 2>I had the privilege of having a front row seats

0:18:45.819 --> 0:18:48.899
<v Speaker 2>seen the ten TI thousands of positive actions. I get

0:18:48.899 --> 0:18:52.259
<v Speaker 2>reports every week of the outstanding work that our friction

0:18:52.339 --> 0:18:54.739
<v Speaker 2>topics is still at mounted in prison a couple of

0:18:54.779 --> 0:18:57.419
<v Speaker 2>weeks ago, they saved the life of the prisoner. Like

0:18:57.459 --> 0:19:00.138
<v Speaker 2>I said, I've been at the recently at the police

0:19:00.859 --> 0:19:04.579
<v Speaker 2>awards ceremonies, and it's and and and Sadly, the only

0:19:04.619 --> 0:19:06.819
<v Speaker 2>time that you often hear about brichand to police are

0:19:06.819 --> 0:19:09.419
<v Speaker 2>any of these is when there's a negative story I'm

0:19:09.539 --> 0:19:11.419
<v Speaker 2>running in the media, and that's life and I sit that.

0:19:11.539 --> 0:19:14.619
<v Speaker 2>But but you know what, there's just some they do

0:19:14.699 --> 0:19:16.899
<v Speaker 2>so much positive stuff for us in the country, and

0:19:17.019 --> 0:19:19.019
<v Speaker 2>I just think we should be so thankful that the

0:19:19.059 --> 0:19:19.979
<v Speaker 2>farm that we've got them.

0:19:20.219 --> 0:19:23.339
<v Speaker 1>Have you started thinking about next year's election yet or

0:19:23.379 --> 0:19:25.579
<v Speaker 1>do you even have time to think that far ahead?

0:19:26.739 --> 0:19:29.499
<v Speaker 2>No? Not, not really because there is so much going on.

0:19:29.579 --> 0:19:33.339
<v Speaker 2>They're still we're still doing some major reforms. You know.

0:19:33.459 --> 0:19:35.379
<v Speaker 2>I think we'll start thinking about the election as we're

0:19:35.379 --> 0:19:38.699
<v Speaker 2>move into next year. But no, right at the moment,

0:19:38.779 --> 0:19:41.019
<v Speaker 2>especially with the emergency management I'll be down to South

0:19:41.059 --> 0:19:43.979
<v Speaker 2>Island for last week, you know, with the response and

0:19:44.059 --> 0:19:46.658
<v Speaker 2>the recovery is just supported with the response with right

0:19:46.659 --> 0:19:47.139
<v Speaker 2>in the middle of it.

0:19:47.659 --> 0:19:49.139
<v Speaker 3>Thanks for joining us, Mark.

0:19:49.979 --> 0:19:52.099
<v Speaker 2>Say thank you, Chelsea, thank you for having me on.

0:19:55.339 --> 0:19:58.539
<v Speaker 1>That's it for this episode of the Front Page. You

0:19:58.579 --> 0:20:02.499
<v Speaker 1>can read more about today's stories and extensive news coverage

0:20:02.499 --> 0:20:04.859
<v Speaker 1>at enzidherld dot co dot nz.

0:20:05.659 --> 0:20:08.539
<v Speaker 3>The Front Page is produced by Jane Ye.

0:20:08.259 --> 0:20:12.898
<v Speaker 1>And Richard Martin, who is also our editor. I'm Chelsea Daniels.

0:20:13.299 --> 0:20:16.539
<v Speaker 1>Subscribe to The Front Page on iHeartRadio or wherever you

0:20:16.539 --> 0:20:19.979
<v Speaker 1>get your podcasts, and tune in to Morrow for another

0:20:20.019 --> 0:20:21.459
<v Speaker 1>look behind the headlines.