NZ losing battle with thugs

The iconic statue of NZ reputation is being attacked

New Zealand is rapidly squandering its worldwide reputation for peace, harmony, low crime and fairness.

A FEW weeks ago British expartriates voted NZ as the best country for immigrants, knocking Canada off the top spot, and beating Australia into third place. The survey was widely reported in the British press and NZ was hailed as paradise on Earth.

In another report, NZ was also found to be the most peaceful out of the OECD westernised economies.

Britain has always been the country to avoid for its perceived high crime rate, failed community spirit and lack of peace compounded by extreme traffic, closing-time thuggery, and disenfranchised youth.

But between the surveys being conducted and their results being published, the rose-scent with which NZ is usually associated has fouled considerably.

First a report into the Immigration service found widespread and systematic failings that had contributed to unfair decisions, nepotism and bizarre outcomes.

Then the OECD ranked NZ as number two for crimes against vehicles and the person, second only to Ireland.

And any day of the week, the newspapers in NZ focus on violent crime and traffic accidents.

Today, for example on the front pages, Family upset by sentence for slain girl, Woman killed while walking dog, Muggers urinate on victim, and a host of other crime and accident related headlines.

Chip by chip, blow by blow, the iconic statue of NZ reputation is being attacked, and once destroyed, it is a decades-long challenge to re-build, as the UK has found.

I don't mean to suggest that such incidents and surveys should not be reported, but a self-focus on national stories at the expense of world issues and news of significance can only lead to a pessimistic personality and introverted outlook.

Perception is everything.

Look to the world New Zealand, wake up, reputations must be upheld, and there is far more out there than is dreamt of in your philosophy.

Comments

[Stephen]

I hate to tell you this, but it's bollocks.

The murder rate per 1000, which is the most reliable indicator of violence, has been coming down steadily for some years now (probably as the late 90s/early 00s demographic bulge of teens matures). In other words, we are not losing, we are winning.

What HAS been increasing is the media coverage of violent events. See here for example:

http://www.howardleague.co.nz/factsheets/factsheet_51.htm

I urge you to consider where the problem really lies, and whether you are helping.

[William Knight]

Thanks for commenting Stephen, controversy is always welcome here at TNZL.

I'm not entirely certain which part of the post you think is Bollox, all of it, or just the headline.

In any case, there was no suggestion that anything has increased, except, perhaps a slight hint that the media thugs weren't doing the country any favours. (and of course, neither do the violent thugs)

Read again, let me know what you think.

[William Knight]

On the other hand Stephen, maybe the headline does give a slightly wrong impression.

[lavenderbongo]

I think you right William - perception is everything. The violent crimes and thefts seem to be reported a lot in the news over here and this makes it appear as if NZ is a far more damgerous place than it is. My nieghbour (a native kiwi!) thinks that Wellington is a city full of rising violence and gang activity. And I am sure it is - in certain areas. However when you compare it to areas of London and some of the other big cities in the UK its a paradise.

[Domestic Executive]

I wonder whether NZ is on the same slippery slope as other countries in the world. The social deficits here are acute and seem to be getting worse with the economic downturn. It's hard to see how this is being addressed other than to put double bunks in prisons and increase the number of places available to put criminals.

[john]

Hi all
Ive been living in taupo now for 2years and i think the problem is mix of poor television ie death killing how it was done etc etc which unfortnatly seems to affect the people here so they think gangs are cool and good if you know what i mean , and the press seem to sensationalise it all the time.
The police are not used to these changing times but are being used to collect taxs from drivers