March 23, 2017
Community responds to Kaikohe rampage
The chair of the Northland Social Wellbeing Governance Group, Harry Burkhardt, is calling for a community-led response to youth problems in Kaikohe.
Five boys have so far been identified and spoken to by police about a rampage in the Northland town last Friday which involved breaking into a liquor store and attempting to break into a service station.
Mr Burkhart says his group's Kainga Ora initiative would take a social investment approach involving government agencies, NGOs, iwi and community leaders.
He says the problems can’t be fixed by one government agency and will require Kaikohe to co-design solutions that will work for their community.
Police are considering how they can temporarily boost their presence in Kaikohe to meet the concerns of the community, and the Social Well-Being Governance Group and Te Runanga-a-iwi o Ngapuhi have called a community hui next week to discuss what must be done next.
Copyright © 2017, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com