Labour MP Megan Woods has rejected comments by Green MP Tamatha Paul suggesting a move towards “radical police abolition,” but said it would be a stretch to claim the remarks would damage public confidence in the justice system.
The Green Party has come under heavy criticism in recent days following Paul’s remarks questioning the value of police patrols and calling for a rethink on the role of police in social issues.
National MP Matt Doocey said the comments were “concerning,” “unsubstantiated,” and reflective of a party that had strayed into “very far-left activism.”
Woods, while acknowledging her party did not support Paul’s views, said it was important not to “catastrophise” the situation.
“We don’t agree with Tamatha. We think communities want to see more police, not fewer,” Woods said. “I don’t think we need to go as far as to say that it’s going to erode public confidence in the police.”
Woods also said it was normal for political parties in Parliament to have different positions and pointed out Labour had consistently supported a visible police presence in communities.
But Doocey argued that the Greens’ repeated stance on law and order issues should raise alarms, especially for any potential coalition arrangements.
“This is an electorate Green MP from Wellington making disheartening comments about our hard-working police who are on the front line every day,” Doocey said. “Even some of the community groups she referenced have distanced themselves from her claims.”
He said the Greens’ broader position on justice and corrections reflected a pattern of radicalism. “It’s not uncommon to see Green MPs wearing shirts calling for the abolition of prisons. This is a pathway to anarchy.”
Doocey also claimed Labour and the Greens had voted together against every law and order bill introduced by the coalition Government this term.
Woods pushed back, saying the accusation was “nonsense” and reiterated Labour’s support for police. “We’ve been crystal clear — we want to see more police, not fewer. What’s dismaying is that in the entire time this Government has been in place, there have only been 13 additional police officers added.”
She said the Government had promised to deliver 500 more officers by the end of the year, but progress had been slow.
Doocey dismissed the criticism as a “distraction,” saying the real issue was Labour’s alignment with Green Party principles. “What it says to those brave police men and women on the front line is they are not respected by the opposition.”
The conversation also touched on Green MP Kahurangi Carter’s claim that some New Zealanders feel safer around gang members than police. Woods said such sentiments might be understandable within gang families but agreed it did not send a good message to frontline officers.
“I think each of us probably feel safer with our own families, and that may be the case for those in gang families,” she said. “But we also have police who work hard to build relationships in the community.”
Woods said when issues did arise, there were clear accountability processes through the Independent Police Conduct Authority.
Doocey said Carter’s remarks and social media posts from some Green MPs posing with gang members showed a “radicalisation” within the party that should concern New Zealanders.
“It’s part of a trend that shows a lack of respect for the institutions that keep our communities safe,” he said.
