Exponential Increase in Police Powers

Is Martial Law Next?

David Garrett
Kiwiblog

Over the past few weeks – and particularly since “lockdown” began only two short weeks ago – we have seen police powers growing, seemingly by the day. It began  with what former Commissioner Bush called a “three step process”: firstly educate, then warn, then if necessary arrest. Bush seemed to think the veiled threat of “a trip to our place” for those who didn’t satisfy his men  somewhat amusing. It was made  clear that what was envisaged for persons taken on that “trip”  was a period of detention and then – if the person concerned was a good boy and agreed to whatever was asked of them  – release without charge. So far so only slightly sinister, although it would be fair to say that most people didn’t really see it that way. It was only libertarians like me who had some disquiet from the beginning.

The next step was a exponential increase in police powers granted by the Medical Officer of Health, the apparently very capable Dr Ashley Bloomfield, by way of a Notice issued  under s.70 of the Health Act 1956. It is no exaggeration to say that the powers granted to the police under that Notice far exceed anything seen in this country since the waterfront strike/lockout in 1951; they are arguably greater than 70 years ago.

If any reader thinks that statement is hyperbole, I strongly urge them to read the said section 70  – just Google “New Zealand Legislation” and insert “Health Act” into the box. A Notice under s.70 allows persons acting under the direction of the Medical Officer of Health to: order that animals be destroyed; require persons to submit themselves for medical examination or testing at a prescribed place and time; require persons and places  to be disinfected; require persons to remain where they are until declared free of disease; and most draconian of all – and that is not a word I use lightly –  do anything listed under s.70 (2), which bears quoting in full:

s.70 (2) The medical officer of health, and any environmental health officer or other person authorised in that behalf by the medical officer of health, may at any time, with or without assistants, enter on any lands, buildings, or ships, and inspect the same and all things thereon or therein; and may do, with respect to any persons, places, lands, buildings, ships, animals, or things, whatever in the opinion of the medical officer of health is necessary or expedient for the purpose of carrying out the foregoing provisions of this section

In other words, the police – or any other “authorized” person – may enter into your home and do “whatever in the opinion of the Medical Officer of Health is necessary or expedient…”. These are extraordinary powers, seemingly without obvious limit.

Beware What You Wish For

Policing By Consent


Dr Eric Crampton
Insights Newsletter


New Zealand’s basic bargain around firearms ownership and policing always seemed rather sensible. It was very much a feature of New Zealand’s general “Outside of the Asylum” approach to policy.

Background checks on potential firearm owners limit access to firearms in the interest of public safety. The police then have no need to be routinely armed. It seems a far more sensible approach than America’s, where a heavily armed public has increasingly led to a militarised police force.

New Zealand’s bargain seems to be breaking down with an increasingly armed police force coinciding with far tighter restrictions on civilian firearm ownership. It puts at risk basic principles of good policing dating back to London’s Metropolitan Police Force in 1829.

New Zealand is one of the few countries that has maintained an unarmed constabulary. Police Commissioner Mike Bush put things well in 2009 after a rare shooting of a police officer led to calls for arming the police. He described our unarmed constabulary as a unique and cherished feature of New Zealand policing, and warned that routine arming of police would make community policing considerably more difficult.

The fundamental relationship between police officers and members of the public changes when one of them has a sidearm at the ready. The trial of roving squads of armed police ready in case of armed incidents has already led to their use in more routine stops.

John Milton Spoke True Words

"Usually He'd Receive An Elbow . . . "  But Not Tonight

Anonymous Author
Courtesy of NZ Herald

The wife of an AOS officer involved in a recent call out to an isolated rural house where two women had been brutally murdered has spoken out.  She, of course, in this case is the "other half" .  Her account reminds us of the old adage, penned by John Milton, "They also serve who only stand and wait".

An open letter to the public of New Zealand

The next time you sit behind your keyboards and decide to s*** on our Police Force, spare a thought for who is reading your thoughtless speculation and comments.

Today my husband braved an unpredictable gunman. Along with his colleagues, they were the first responders who ran in to attempt life saving support for two beautiful women, all the while very aware they were being watched and most likely about to be targeted themselves; a situation that would have most people in flight mode. Tragically those ladies never made it home to their loved ones despite EVERY effort and determination on behalf of our emergency services.

Don't be mistaken, they love their job with every fibre of their being and would chose this over and over again. They don't ask for recognition, they certainly don't expect a thank-you, and you can rest assured that if the need arose, they would give their life for yours, every time, just as they swore they would.

What people fail to forget are those men (and women) dressed in black (and blue) from head to toe, are regular people. They have partners sitting at home refreshing every media source possible for updates. Often the first we hear of our men being at a job is via the internet.

Dealing Properly With Rogue Police

Sad Case, Right Outcomes

Rogue police.  Usually when this hits the headlines it is referring to some overseas country--often the United States, not infrequently Australia, and sometimes the UK and Europe.  But New Zealand is like any other country: rogue policemen and police women can and do exist.  Only constant vigilance, training, an open culture, and ethical standards set and lived from the top down keep such perversity and systemic damage to the police (and the public) to a minimum.  

In a recent case a rogue policeman has been dealt with before the courts, and it now undergoing an "employment process"--that is, his employer, the NZ Police is now dealing with him via the procedures of employment law.

The stalker who harassed a Dunedin businessman for two-and-a-half years can now be revealed as a police officer.  Constable Jeremy Fraser Buis, 39, was sentenced following a judge-alone trial in March to 200 hours' community work and ordered to pay the victim, Danny Pryde, $15,000 after being found guilty of criminal harassment, threatening to do grievous bodily harm and intentional damage.

Southern District commander Superintendent Paul Basham confirmed yesterday that the defendant had been suspended in February 2015 and an employment process was ongoing.  [NZ Herald]

What did this rogue police officer do?

Lies, Damned Lies, and Media Narratives

The Media's Misleading World of Deception and Half-Truth

Recently we were treated to a stellar current affairs programme broadcast on a free-to-air channel.  It was a piece produced by "The Hui"and concerned a recent trial where a Maori man was convicted on charges of attempted murder, using firearms against police officers, and  causing grievous bodily harm.

The man in question was Rhys Warren.  The events took place a little over a year ago in Kawerau, a small Bay of Plenty town in New Zealand's North Island.  The lead author of the piece was Rewa Harriman; the managing presenter was Mihingarangi Forbes.  It was a classic case of half truths and chasing rumours into a fog of specious innuendo.  It is little wonder that general public discourse is so ignorant in New Zealand when the media, that once self-vaunted Fourth Estate, specializes in misdirection, half truths, and propaganda.

The events are well known.  The police Armed Offenders Squad entered a rural house outside Kawerau.  Whilst "clearing" the house they were shot at close range by Rhys Warren.  His weapons of choice were a breech loading Rossi .308, a Lee Enfield .303, and a Glock 9mm.   He was recently convicted at trial and now awaits sentence.  Harriman and Forbes wove a narrative around these events which cast Warren as the victim.  It's the reflexive perspective employed by most of the media when writing about Maori, especially Maori media.

Here are some of the egregious and deliberate misdirections employed by the unprofessional Harriman and Forbes.

Not Bad

Of Hammers, Nails and Their Heads

Further to the recent police siege in Kawerau, [discussed here] one of our local opinionistas has got it right--at least it appears to us.

Here is Larry Williams, radio show host, giving us his view on what happened and its consequences. We find ourselves in full agreement.

It was a peaceful ending in the Bay of Plenty siege.

Police arrested Rhys Warren who allegedly shot four cops. He can count himself lucky to have come out alive.  Had the cops shot the gunman dead, it wouldn't have come as a shock considering the circumstances.

The alleged offender's whanau have taken aim at the cops. They reckon that they could've ended the siege earlier.  How would we know? How would we know that they wouldn't make the stand-off worse?

The police were faced with a hostile operation and they certainly didn't need the family hindering that.  That could've complicated an already tense situation. Meddling family was the last thing they needed.