Source: New Zealand Parliament – Hansard
Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader—Green):
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I’m sure I joined with all my colleagues in the House today in shock and sadness at the tragedy that has happened in Auckland today with people losing their lives, people being injured, and people being scared across entire Auckland—Auckland’s central communities. My relief is probably equal to the level of pōuri and sadness and aroha that I send to people who have to bear the news of losing loved ones, of loved ones being injured. The relief I speak about is—probably like many of us, I had a daughter on her way to work in central Auckland this morning who was, thankfully, able to avoid going there and work from home. So being able to understand that that’s just such an ordinary thing to do—to make your way to work—and you expect to come home and not be harmed.
So I also want to acknowledge the police officer who was shot. I think we still should expect that no one should have to go to work with the expectation of being harmed. But I do know that that is a sacrifice that our front-line agencies and forces willingly and generously avail themselves to, and I really, really acknowledge that. I am quite sure that further lives and health and wellbeing have been saved today by the quick actions of many.
As the prevention of violence Minister, I’m aware that it has been confirmed by the police that the shooter had a domestic violence history and offences, and I want to acknowledge the prevention of violence sector and everyone who has been impacted on by violence, who may be feeling incredible trigger and trauma right now. I want to assure people that the services to be able to help people work through that are fully operational and available, as they always have been, and they are particularly aware of the extra need and that they might be called upon right now, including if people only know to contact the police. The police are well set up to refer people to the right expertise and specialist help in the community, and they have those relationships. I’m further aware that violence is never ever OK and that we have big work, together, at every level to do, taking particular leadership from the sector and the experts who know what needs to be done. That work will absolutely continue.
For now, in my office, we will continue to keep abreast of the police investigation—being able to confirm information—but this space right now is prioritised to support people through the trauma, the grief, and the shock, like many of us here are feeling, and to make sure that people know there is help there right now. Many, many questions to come from all of us, and much discussion to be had to understand what the work is ahead of all of us.
I just sum up by also recognising the trauma, particularly for the workplace and the construction sector in general, and I note that migrant communities are overrepresented in the construction sector. When it comes to trauma we are wanting to make sure that there are support services there for everyone who needs them, including those who may not have the deeper community support that we might expect and assume of everyone else.
So I acknowledge all of those needs for this space right now for healing and support, and I thank the Minister for her statement today. Kia ora.
SPEAKER: That ends this statement. Sorry, did the Deputy Prime Minister want to respond?
