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Methamphetamine is an evil the Government has committed significant resources to combating.
A United Nations report released yesterday showed the use of amphetamine-type drugs in New Zealand and Australia appeared to be among the highest in the world.
New Zealand has already seen a number of high profile murders and other horrific crimes of violence caused by this drug. The pure truth is that P can cause permanent, serious physical and psychological effects on individuals and accompanying damage to families and communities.
The Government's Methamphetamine Action Plan, released on 22 May this year, includes a 19-point strategy to counter P.
The plan includes greater search and seizure powers for police, increased powers for Customs to deal with unlicensed imports of methamphetamine ingredients, improved community education and more comprehensive drug monitoring surveillance data to support enforcement.
The aim is to control supply, reduce demand and limit the problems methamphetamine is creating in New Zealand. Measures in the Plan built on existing programmes and initiatives.
Actions taken so far under the Plan include more money in this year's Budget for Police and Customs initiatives, reclassification of methamphetamine to a Class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act, and the development of community action plans.
Since May when Cabinet approved the reclassification of Methamphetamine, anyone convicted of importing, manufacturing or supplying the drug now faces up to life imprisonment, while those possessing the drug faced up to six months jail and a fine.
Seizures of controlled drugs entering New Zealand currently ran at more than one a fortnight.
Customs made 28 significant seizures of controlled drugs entering New Zealand in the financial year to the end of June 2003, including more than 265,000 tablets of MDMA (ecstasy), 941g of crystal methamphetamine, 964g of amphetamine, 217g of cocaine, and 233g of heroin.
Customs also seized in excess of 530,000 tablets (or powder equivalent) of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, the common precursor chemicals for the making of methamphetamine, in some 222 separate incidents in the eight months to August this year.
Cabinet has agreed to lower the presumption of supply in relation to methamphetamine from the current 56g to 5g.
This will allow police the ability to prosecute more suppliers of this dangerous drug. This measure will help police and customs in their fight against methamphemine and is expected to begin its progress through the Cabinet process by the end of this month.
Pseudoephedrine, an ingredient for the manufacture of methamphetamine, has also been recommended by the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs to be classified as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
The Government has allocated $6.6m over four years in this year's Budget to fund two police teams trained in the cleanup of clandestine methamphetamine laboratories.
The teams, each with five police officers and two civilian staff, will be based in Auckland and Wellington, with the Wellington team also covering the South Island, and will begin work on 1 January 2004.
Other initiatives included Police funding research by Massey University on the link between crime and the use of P and working with Documentary New Zealand on a special programme about the issue (my offices have copies of this).
Around the country, Police are providing presentations to groups including schools, nurses and the wider community to explain the issue and discourage the use of the drug.
Police have developed a Māori or English language presentation on P called Patua Te Ngangara (Battling the Devil), in conjunction with Dr Pita Sharples and other Māori youth workers.
We are fortunate to have this available in Wairarapa and I thank all those involved with bringing it to us.
There is to be a public presentation of this at 6.30pm at the Kiwi Hall in Featherston tomorrow night (October 14) and I encourage all those who did not see it in Masterton to attend.
The entire community should get behind moves to counter the abuse of amphetamine-type drugs.
This is not the time for cross party, cheap political point scoring. This is a time for unity in the face of one of the most serious challenges New Zealand has faced in recent times.
As I have previous said, Rural Affairs Minister Jim Sutton is seeking feedback on proposals to clarify and enhance the legal situation relating to public walking access over private land, along riverbanks and the foreshores of lakes and the sea.
The Government has organised a series of public consultation meetings and hui around New Zealand following the recent report of the Land Access Ministerial Reference Group.
This consultation will be an opportunity for anyone to tell the Government their views on walking access to land.
Public meetings in or near Wairarapa are as follows: 4pm on 17 October at Masterton District Council; and 7pm on 22 October at Sherwood on Featherston in Palmerston North.
Further information on the Reference Group's report and public meetings is available from MAF, (04) 474 4380, or on the website at: www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz or email helen.avery@maf.govt.nz
Congratulations to Len Frances on his recent Age Concern senior achiever gold award. Len is a tireless worker for the Heart Foundation, Rotary and worthy causes and is very deserving of this accolade.
Any comments on any matters raised in this column or other issues you might feel strongly about can be sent to me through email gbeyer@wise.net.nz or post to PO Box 913, Masterton.
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