Three years ago we started to raise the alarm about an apparent “COVID Crime Wave” that we had noticed in Newmarket and other parts of the city. We had seen a sudden spike in retail theft and anti-social behaviour. The nature of the retail theft had changed and had become more aggressive, and the behaviour of some on the streets had turned more unpredictable and violent. Then two years ago we banded together with several other business associations and wrote an open letter to then Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. We asked for a more co-ordinated, pan-government agency strategy to address the rise in crime and anti-social behaviour across Auckland, and other parts of the country.

Our main request was in three specific areas:

• An increase in police resourcing and visibility in city and towncentres
• A more co-ordinated approach to emergency housing
• Better wrap around services for mental health and addiction

Fast forward to mid-2023, almost three years since we first started to make some noise about these issues - things have continued to worsen. Ask almost anyone in the street, work place or neighbourhood, and people are talking about crime and our current state of affairs as a country.

From a retail crimes perspective the government argue they have established a Retail Crimes Unit and forked out millions in minimising ram raids and smash and grabs by funding bollards and fog cannons. All very last resort, ‘ambulance at the bottom of the cliff’ stuff. The government also argue they have “delivered 1,800 new police”. The way in which police are focused continues to distract them from the frontline. There is work to be done here, we could follow the UK’s example and free them up from dealing with mental health issues. A gap that could, and should be filled by Te Whatu Ora. Also, when one police jurisdiction gets tough, all that seems to happen is the issues get displaced to another area. To be clear, in Newmarket we are blessed - our police, in the Auckland East Area, and City are nothing short of superb. They are well co-ordinated and achieve a lot with what resources they do have. Police bosses however claiming crime isn’t up but reporting is up is very much at odds with the lived experience faced on the streets, especially by small business owners and security officers. One of our long-term towncentre patrol officers, Ray, has been patrolling our streets for almost 8 years. He’s never seen it this bad. Speak to any retailer, especially the smaller ones who now keep their doors locked during trade hours, it’s never been this bad.

This country is facing a crime crisis, and especially around youth crime. Criminal youth activity coupled with the extraordinarily high levels of school truancy rates, mean we really are sitting ducks for years of continued social disorder and crime. Even right now, do we want our tourists bearing witness to violent beatings as they step off cruise ships? Do we want people barricaded in cafes in central suburbs because someone is having a rampage with a hammer and smashing things up? Do we want shoppers in the afternoon witnessing smash and grabs from jewellers in shopping malls? Do we want to see cars racing down the wrong side of the road through busy shopping town centres on the run from police mid-afternoon? Honestly, it all beggars belief.

This city is in danger of losing its status as an international destination. Heck even the worst beggars in Asia and Europe don’t threaten you with vile abuse and violence.

Over the past 3 years, the passive response from Wellington, the deflection, and lack of ownership of issues that are impacting New Zealanders every day, to my mind is outrageous. However, all the main opposition party has is ‘boot camps’. Boot camps may work, but only if the participants are never returned to their former stituations and are allowed to flourish in a new environment away from negative influences. It’s hardly practical and there is limited data to support their success. Expand and ramp up programmes that work like Te Pae Oranga, get an ‘army’ of truancy officers on the streets asking youth tough questions during school hours (looking at you Oranga Tamariki and Ministry of Education), get the parents and wider whanau involved, (looking at you Ministry of Social Development). The police cannot continue to mop up for every other agency that is not pulling their weight. If laws need changing to allow this to happen, change the damned laws.

Both major political parties need a serious reality check and some fresh ideas. This issue should not be a political ideological toy to be played with. All of this stuff really matters. This country is beautiful, it is rich in so many ways. But our politicians are disrespecting it, and us. We need bi-partisan agreement and strategies for the short, medium and long term that will bring tangible improvements.

So, Dear Prime Minister, as our letter in the NZ Herald today asks, please deliver action to keep our city and towncentres safe and appealing for locals and visitors.  And to all politicians it’s not about scoring political points, it’s about public safety and peoples’ livelihoods.

Learn more about what we are doing to keep Newmarket safe here.

In collaboration with Heart of the City, and the Parnell, Ponsonby and Takapuna Business Associations, below is a copy of the open letter to the Prime Minister published in NZ Herald on Wednesday 7 June.