Defunding the police is not Green Party policy. At a panel last month Paul said police resources could be used more productively, and suggested other agencies and organisations were better placed to take on some of police’s functions.
I can only imagine there would be a transfer of funding to those organisations at the same time, surely?
I think they felt this was something that needed to be brought to the attention of the NZ public?
Given that law and order was a key item last election, and something Nat-Act-NZF were seen as being strong on, probably with good reason, it’s a spectacular own goal for one of their MPs to be making these statements. Especially considering how dodgy parts of Wellington feel some days.
I find this frustrating, because I’m someone that works for wages, and spends as much time as possible in the outdoors, so I should be supporting either Labour or Green, but neither party really appeals to me right now.