Nov 5, 2020 | Politics & Society
We all know the harm that gangs can do but can they ever be good for society? And what constitutes a gang anyway? Three experts from the University discuss the issues in 350 words each. Social inequality is the real crime By definition, gangs are entities that engage...
Aug 26, 2020 | Politics & Society, Referee
By Sam Meyerhoff “Were punishment made a right, there are two possible ways to formulate it: either as a right to be punished for the choices we make, or a right to punish those who wrong us.” Earlier this year, the Equal Justice Project had the honour of...
Apr 9, 2020 | Politics & Society
By Sarah Steingrüber It was never a question of if, but when, and now here we are. What’s worse is that we were warned. We are in the midst of a major global pandemic with nations all over the world declaring national emergencies, health systems struggling to cope or...
Feb 27, 2020 | Politics & Society
Despite more than forty years of law reform aimed at improving the experience of giving evidence for adult rape complainants, Ministry of Justice research in 2018 re-confirmed that the process remains distressing and re-traumatizing. Elisabeth McDonald has written a...
Dec 2, 2019 | Arts & Culture
The recent heist at the Green Vault within the Dresden Castle in Germany has been speculated to be one of the largest art heists in history. City officials and experts consider the loss to be “priceless” and a “cultural loss”, while the media...
Nov 26, 2019 | Politics & Society
A few days ago Justice Minister Andrew Little announced plans to change the current law on prisoner voting rights in time for the 2020 election, to allow prisoners serving sentences of three years or under to vote. This change comes after a landmark decision by the...
Nov 6, 2019 | Politics & Society
New Zealand National party leader Simon Bridges wants to stop gang members from gaining access to welfare if they cannot prove their income is from legitimate sources. This comes at a time when some gangs are wanting changes in their community. However, sociologist...
Nov 5, 2019 | Politics & Society
The debate around the trial of armed police patrols in New Zealand continues since it was announced three weeks ago. The patrols will be rolled out in Manukau, Waikato, and Canterbury and involve heavily armed, specially trained, units roaming the streets in vehicles....
Jun 19, 2019 | Politics & Society
By Ethan Kisby New Zealand gang membership, especially Māori gang membership, may have more to do with our colonial history and young men searching for a sense of belonging than organised crime itself. New Zealand’s colonial history has resulted in the breakdown of...
Jun 17, 2019 | Politics & Society
Last week, an independent report revealed massive failings throughout New Zealand’s criminal justice system. The interim report from the Safe and Effective Justice Advisory Group (Te Uepū Hāpai i te Ora) – called The Vessel of Tears (He Waka Roimata) –...