Live politics 3.3.25
Hipkins slams Greens for 'ill-informed' and 'stupid' comments about police
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has strongly condemned Green MPs' comments about policing, saying they owe the police and public an apology.
His criticism, calling these comments "ill-informed", "unwise" and "stupid", was directed at both Green justice spokesperson Tamatha Paul and children's spokesperson Kahurangi Carter.
"I thought Tamatha Paul's comments were ill-informed, were unwise, in fact were stupid. I don't think responsible members of Parliament should be undermining police," he told reporters on Wednesday.
The most recent comments, from Paul, criticised recent increases in police foot patrols. She said they had not made Wellington safer, and had just led to police taking away homeless' people's belongings.
Hipkins said that opinion was "totally out of touch".
"That's a completely out of touch statement... I regularly see police walking down the main street of Upper Hutt and I think that's a very good thing," he said.
Hipkins said that, if in a coalition with the Green Party, he would continue to "call them out" when he thought they were in the wrong.
"Look I will call them out when they do things we disagree with. I thought these comments were very ill-advised. I think the New Zealand public do have confidence in the police," he said.
Hipkins also targeted the comments of Carter, made during last year's gang patch ban debate.
Carter said many people felt safer around gang members than police.
"Would you rather be walking down a dark alley and see a patched member or a police officer? For many people in New Zealand, they would feel safer alone with a patched member," she asked Parliament.
Hipkins labelled that comment unprofessional and out of touch.
"I think she should apologise for that, actually. I don't think that's what responsible members of Parliament should be saying," he said.
His criticism, calling these comments "ill-informed", "unwise" and "stupid", was directed at both Green justice spokesperson Tamatha Paul and children's spokesperson Kahurangi Carter.
"I thought Tamatha Paul's comments were ill-informed, were unwise, in fact were stupid. I don't think responsible members of Parliament should be undermining police," he told reporters on Wednesday.
The most recent comments, from Paul, criticised recent increases in police foot patrols. She said they had not made Wellington safer, and had just led to police taking away homeless' people's belongings.
Hipkins said that opinion was "totally out of touch".
"That's a completely out of touch statement... I regularly see police walking down the main street of Upper Hutt and I think that's a very good thing," he said.
Hipkins said that, if in a coalition with the Green Party, he would continue to "call them out" when he thought they were in the wrong.
"Look I will call them out when they do things we disagree with. I thought these comments were very ill-advised. I think the New Zealand public do have confidence in the police," he said.
Hipkins also targeted the comments of Carter, made during last year's gang patch ban debate.
Carter said many people felt safer around gang members than police.
"Would you rather be walking down a dark alley and see a patched member or a police officer? For many people in New Zealand, they would feel safer alone with a patched member," she asked Parliament.
Hipkins labelled that comment unprofessional and out of touch.
"I think she should apologise for that, actually. I don't think that's what responsible members of Parliament should be saying," he said.