Northland dairy owners join national vigil by closing during lunch hours

Destination Dairy owner Jayesh Patel has hit out at the Government's lack of action.

Dairy owners have gathered outside the office of Whangārei MP Emily Henderson and Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis as a nationwide vigil for slain Auckland dairy worker Janak Patel gathers momentum.

Dairies nationwide shut between 12.30pm and 2.30pm to protest the last week’s fatal stabbing.

The vigil comes as Cabinet meets to consider ways to counter rising violence and crime against dairies in the wake of Patel’s death.

Patel, 34, was fatally stabbed last week following an alleged aggravated robbery at the Rose Cottage Superette in Sandringham.

More than 200 people gathered outside the superette placing floral arrangements outside the store to pay tribute to Patel. His funeral took place on Sunday.

Dairy and Business Owners Group chairman Sunny Kaushal said the purpose of today’s “peaceful, dignified” vigil was twofold.

”It’s a mark of respect to the departed soul and also to send a strong message to the Government that enough is enough, something needs to be done and that should have been done yesterday.

“His family, his entire community is in mourning, and also businesses around New Zealand need answers.”

A call for action on the outside wall of the Ngunguru Foodmart.

Kaushal said dairy owners had been asking the Government for help for a long time.

”We have already been telling the Government for the last five years what needs to be done but unfortunately they have not been listening.

“Even five weeks ago when I had a meeting with the police minister we handed over a manifesto with eight points of what needs to be done, but now it is five weeks on and we haven’t heard back,” he said.

”The Government need to start by admitting there was a problem.”

Kaushal also believed more police were needed on the streets to act as a deterrent.

Around 60 people - dairy owners, workers, and community members - gathered in protest outside the office of Whangārei MP Emily Henderson and Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis began around 1pm.

Ralph Correa of the Northland Indian Association said protesters were standing in solidarity with Patel and wanted to protest a lack of action on crime.

”We want a safer community and we want people held to justice,” he said.

“There’s a lot of talk and [the Government] saying there’s minimal crime when it’s just the opposite.”

Dairy owners feared going to work, Correa said.

”Every one of them feels that it’s dangerous to even try to earn a living.”

Protesters outside the offices in Whangārei. Photo / Angela Woods

The owner of the Onerahi Dairy said running a dairy - or any retail business - had been dangerous for years.

“Every day there’s a threat, there’s no law and order. I can rob you and nothing will happen.”

He believed people were robbing dairies for enjoyment, rather than for money.

”This Government, I think, are too polite.”

It had become very difficult to find workers, he added, as the job was too dangerous.

“We work 80, 90 hours a week without staff. This is not a safe place.”

Destination Dairy owner Jayesh Patel, based in Whangārei, was among the shops closing their doors at 12.30pm for the two hour vigil today.

Jayesh spoke out at what he said was the Government’s lack of action around protecting dairy owners and their staff.

”They don’t want to change the law,” he said.

”We had to put the bollards [up] so no one can ram raid [us] with a car. But now they’ve started to murder.”

A Givealittle page has been set up for Patel’s family and has raised more than $65,000.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told AM the Government will be discussing whether crime prevention programmes are reaching everyone they need to, as well as how it can work with councils more to deliver strengthened security.

A group will also assemble outside the Prime Minister’s electorate office in Mt Albert.

A 34-year-old man was arrested on Friday and charged with aggravated robbery and murder following Patel’s death.

A second man, 42, was also arrested and has been charged with robbery. Both men were remanded in custody on Saturday.

A third person has also been charged with robbery. The 36-year-old man is due to appear in the Auckland District Court today.