Dear New Zealand Police,

Under the Official Information Act, I am requesting the following information:

The most recent estimates of the total number of active gang members in New Zealand, broken down by the following regions:

Te Tai Tokerau (Northland)
Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)
Waikato
Te Moana-a-Toi (Bay of Plenty)
Te Tai Rāwhiti (Gisborne)
Taranaki
Manawatū-Whanganui
Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington)
Te Tau Ihu (Nelson/Marlborough)
Te Tai Poutini (West Coast)
Waitaha (Canterbury)
Ōtākou (Otago)
Murihiku (Southland)

Historical data on gang membership numbers over the past five years, broken down by the regions listed above.

Any reports or assessments on trends in gang membership across New Zealand, including factors contributing to increases or decreases in overall gang membership numbers.

I confirm that I reside in New Zealand.

Amy Ferguson

Kia ora Michelle

Thank you for your response on June 11, 2024, regarding my Official Information Act (OIA) requests. I understand that my initial requests, submitted on May 31, 2024, are broad and could place significant demands on your resources. To facilitate a manageable process and avoid refusal under section 18(f) of the OIA,

I have refined my requests to focus on critical areas for policy evaluation and public safety.

Narrowing the Time Frame:

-Please provide data from 2022 to the present, where available.

Focusing on Key Regions or Trends:

-Concentrate on regions with significant gang activity trends, specifically:
Auckland
Waikato
Bay of Plenty
Wellington
Canterbury

Summarized Reports:

Provide summaries or high-level insights if detailed reports are not readily available, including:
-Key findings or trends in gang member numbers.

Prioritization:

Address parts of the requests that can be fulfilled more easily or are immediately relevant to ongoing policy discussions first:
-Initial focus on gang member numbers and resource allocation.
-Subsequent focus on performance metrics and effectiveness of policies.

Further Refinements to Specific Requests

Gang Member Numbers:
-Focus on the current total number of active gang members by region, the past two years of data, and limit reports to the three most recent documents.

[Personal Note]
Rationale for Information Request and Justification for Non-Refusal:

My intention in requesting this information is to support the development of effective strategies and tools to expedite meaningful reform in gang management, ultimately enhancing public safety in New Zealand. I understand that my request is wide-ranging and could present significant demands on your resources. However, the information I am seeking is crucial for informing public discourse, evaluating policy effectiveness, and safeguarding individual rights. By understanding the current landscape of gang activities, assessing the effectiveness of existing management policies, and exploring the potential for technological advancements, we can identify critical areas for improvement and develop more effective strategies to address gang-related issues.

I am particularly interested in the following areas:

Current Landscape of Gang Activities
-Detailed information on the types of gangs, their activities, and their impact on communities.
Effectiveness of Current Gang Management Policies
-An analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of current policies, identifying areas for improvement.
Potential for Technological Advancements to Support Gang Reform
-Exploring how technology can enhance data collection, analysis, and intervention strategies.

I am aware of the potential concerns regarding the scope and detail of my request. However, I believe that the information I am seeking is essential for achieving the following objectives:

Preventing Crime and Harm
-By understanding the root causes of gang involvement and developing effective intervention strategies, we can prevent crime and reduce harm within communities.
Reducing Victimisation
-By addressing the factors that contribute to gang violence and intimidation, we can reduce the number of victims and create safer communities.
Building Trust and Confidence
-By working collaboratively with communities and ensuring transparency in policy development, we can build trust and confidence in the New Zealand Police.

I am committed to engaging in meaningful collaboration with the New Zealand Police to achieve these shared objectives. By working together, we can develop effective gang management strategies that enhance public safety and protect the rights of all New Zealand citizens.
It is crucial to balance public safety with individual rights, ensuring that any information gathered is used responsibly and ethically. The objective should be to address the root causes of gang involvement, promoting strategies that tackle underlying issues rather than merely punishing symptoms.

The information I seek will be invaluable in informing public discourse and policy evaluation on gang management strategies in New Zealand, as outlined in my FYI requests. The proposed policies could have significant implications for several rights and pieces of legislation, including:

-New Zealand Bill of Rights Act (NZBORA)
Concerns about the potential infringement on freedoms of expression and association due to the ban on gang patches.
-Sentencing Act
The policy of making gang membership an aggravating factor in sentencing raises issues about relevance to specific cases.
-Treaty of Waitangi
The disproportionate impact on Māori communities could conflict with the equity principles of the Treaty, leading to possible claims before the Waitangi Tribunal.

While the government suggests that these measures will improve public safety and reduce gang intimidation, critics warn that they may not effectively reduce gang crime and could worsen social isolation among gang members, potentially increasing gang affiliation and related issues like domestic violence. There are also practical challenges regarding enforcement, with concerns about the strain on police resources and the feasibility of consistent application across regions.

Balancing public safety with individual rights is critical, and ensuring that any collected information is used responsibly and ethically is paramount. The objective should be to address the root causes of gang involvement, promoting strategies that tackle underlying issues rather than merely punishing symptoms.

I trust that these refinements address your concerns. I look forward to collaborating meaningfully with you to gather meaningful data that will inform public discourse and policy evaluation on gang management strategies in New Zealand, while also safeguarding the freedoms of New Zealand citizens.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Amy Ferguson