Govt needs to do lot more, say community leaders

The Kiwi Indian community across New Zealand is frustrated and seems fed up with the runaway crime situation in the country. The unfortunate death of Janak Patel, who was fatally stabbed outside Sandringham’s Rose Cottage Superette last Wednesday, has impacted everyone.

The community members strongly feel that the death of a young dairy worker should not be in vain, and the government should take prompt actions to make sure we don't lose more Janaks.

After the death of Patel, several protests were organised across NZ, asking the government on Monday (November 28) to make strict laws for the offenders and spreading the key message that 'Enough is Enough.'

On Monday (November 28), Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a $4 million fund to support local council crime prevention programmes to be matched dollar-for-dollar with councils.

She also said the Retail Crime Prevention Fund would be expanded to include aggravated robberies committed in the past year.

A $4000 subsidy for small shops and dairies to install a fog cannon if they choose, "not just those who have been the victim of a crime", was also announced.

On Tuesday (November 29), many senior community leaders met PM Jacinda Ardern and Police Minister Chris Hipkins, among others, at Mahatma Gandhi Centre, where the community leaders expressed their concern and frustration over the growing crime scene in New Zealand and how no one is feeling safe in NZ.

Indian Weekender spoke to some of the Indian community leaders who were present at the meeting and asked them what the government should be doing and whether the government has done enough.

Narendra Bhana, President, New Zealand Indian Central Association

The government needs to realise that more than this funding is required. Money can't solve everything. Their approach seems to be reactive rather than proactive. They need to learn that installing fog cannons can't solve the problem. All this government can think of is fog cannons. The government is clueless about the ground realities, and I don't understand who is advising our Prime Minister.

The focus should be on prevention and measures that can solve the situation apart from making stricter laws.

I would also say that the government needs to focus on a better social welfare system. If any offender commits any crimes, their benefit should be deducted. The govt needs to focus more on the victims' human rights as much as the human rights of offenders.

The meeting was our opportunity to meet and express Indian communities' serious concerns to the Prime Minister, Minister of Police and Minister of Ethnic Communities. No deal or settlement has been reached with the government

Jeet Suchdev, Chairperson, Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust

During our meeting with the government officials, all the community leaders voiced our concerns strongly. They have listened to us and have assured us of taking quick action. We must wait and watch, but there is no doubt that the current law and order situation is getting out of hand.

There is a lot of pressure on the govt to take quick action. We are very clear that enough is enough, and we know there is a lot that we expect from this government. We want our people to feel safe, and the government should do all it can to ensure that.

Suneel Kuncha, General Secretary, New Zealand Telugu Association 

The government has done too little too late. They need to step up, or we will have more tragedies. They have lost the confidence of the broader Indian community, and they need to put their act together if they want that confidence back.

The government is too soft on crime, which immediately needs to be looked at. 

In our meeting, I proposed that we consider having cashless retail stores by government stepping in and subsidising the bank charges so there is no cash, which would minimise the risk to some extent.

Navtej Randhawa, Founding member of Radio Spice and community leader based in South Auckland

The current government needs to connect closely with the community regarding their aspirations and expectations. The law and order situation is getting out of hand. The government needs to act and find quick solutions. Janak's death has struck a nerve with the community, and enough is enough.

We need to move towards a safer NZ for hardworking kiwis who put their heart and soul into keeping the country moving in the right direction. It is high time the government listens and brings stricter laws to address the issue head-on.

The meeting connected the concerns of our community to the authorities. The problems were voiced strongly, and we all need to work together to find solutions to get out of this menace. We can't afford to lose more Janaks.