Sharples defends his meeting with gangs

Pita Sharples. Photo / Martin Sykes

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples is defending a meeting he held with gang leaders, describing it as "quiet diplomacy" and rejecting criticism that it undermined the Government's hard line on crime.

The meeting came at a $6000 cost to the public and although the Prime Minister was not told of it, he is backing Dr Sharples' approach.

Dr Sharples yesterday issued a statement about a March meeting he called of 16 Black Power and Mongrel Mob leaders after Labour MP Clayton Cosgrove said it undermined the Government's hard line against methamphetamine.

He outlined his concerns about the drug P and violence and asked the gang leaders to use their influence to help to get that message through.

"Quiet diplomacy supports the Government's other strategies and policies for dealing with crime and violence. I believe there are times when you have to front up and talk, and not get into picking and choosing between winners and losers."

The Sunday Star-Times reported the meeting was held in secret and the 16 gang leaders - including one with convictions for P manufacturing - had their costs covered by about $6000 of Government money. It reported Dr Sharples as thanking the leaders for decreasing gang violence.

A spokeswoman for Prime Minister John Key said he would discuss it with Dr Sharples but was so far comfortable with the public explanations given. He did not expect to be informed of every meeting ministers held and was happy with the use of "modest" Government expenditure if it was "in the context of a safer society".

Black Power life member Dennis O'Reilly was also at Dr Sharples' Auckland meeting and contacted the Herald to back his actions.

"He delivered the Government's anti-P message and laid it on these guys as people who had influence, for good or bad. I've never heard him buy into them - he challenges them over it. If the gangs are the devils of this whole thing, wouldn't getting in the faces of their leadership be a good thing?"

He said Mr Cosgrove's criticism was "silly and hypocritical" as Labour ministers had also met gang members.

"How do you think we closed things down when young Jhia Te Tua was killed? There were meetings then in ministers' offices."

The Wanganui toddler was killed in a gang-related shooting in May 2007 and three men have been convicted for their roles in it.

Mr Cosgrove said Dr Sharples clearly believed gangs should be treated as "partners", which undermined the Government's credibility.

"Meeting with gangs - whose stock line of business over the years has included murder and rape as well as peddling drugs - sends them a message that they are equals."

Dr Sharples said the meeting was held in the lead-up to a major Drivers of Crime summit he co-hosted with Justice Minister Simon Power at Parliament later in the same month.

Two gang leaders - Black Power's Eugene Ryder and Mongrel Mobster Edge Te Whaiti - had later attended that summit and he believed they made a good contribution.