New Zealand politician Winston Peters wants to ban gangs but it's not clear whether he would make that a bottom line in post-election negotiations.
The NZ First leader says it's happening overseas and four Australian states are outlawing gang activities.
"The question with gangs is why they exist at all," he said during Saturday's minor party leaders debate on TV3's The Nation program.
"We're going to ban their activities because they're involved in serious things like drugs and prostitution - a whole range of activities which are bad for the country, bad for Maoridom and it's the very worse possible image for young Maori as well."
Mr Peters said he wasn't prepared to accept compromises.
"We are going to do what other countries are doing, we are going to ban their existence, that's the real issue."
Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell said not all gangs were Maori and the justice system should be reviewed.
"Maori are four to five times more likely to be apprehended and prosecuted - those numbers are just not right for this country."
Share
