A new group formed to pressure the Government to make real changes to stem the rising tide of crime in Whangārei has taken off, with plans for a mass march through the city to make their point and a well-known community leader to front the campaign.
Business owners Raquel and Mike - they do not want to use their surnames used - started the Whangārei Stand Up Facebook group on Monday, concerned at what they see as a rise in crime and people living in fear that they could become victims too. More than 3400 members joined up in three days, and the pair have been blown away by the response.
The group met again on Wednesday to form a plan of action and former long-term police officer and current Whangārei District Councillor Gavin Benney has agreed to lead the public campaign for the group over the serious community safety issues.
Benney, a longtime police officer at Hikurangi, said the city was not safe at times and the community needed to unite to send a message to the Government that it needed to do more. He said more police, more resources and more visibility of officers on the streets were needed, but, he said, community action was the best way to send that message.
Benney said the aim was to organise a mass march through the city - “sooner rather than later” - to get the message across, and they need action now.