Kia ora Sacha!

Kia ora. Yes prosecutions of teenagers is nuts in setting up long term crises. But, many of those kids probably had weed on them or were using. That's a problem too, obviously. Dysfunctional whanau don't need easier access to more dysfunction. Without stronger whanau we're stuffed anyway.

Kia ora Russell. Long time reader, first time responder :)

It's interesting people are occasionally surprised by Hone's social views. They are only conservative/surprising if taken out of context, ie dropped into in the progressive media/blogosphere. Placed back into the context of communities locked in a struggle for survival, it's easy to see why he doesn't toe the progressive line. Cannabis is an added burden on communities that have little ability to absorb yet another negative factor. Similarly, same-sex marriage (which I fully support, btw) comes quite low down the list of priorities.

And as for the "Green economy", my cousins grow it and sell it to each other on dole day. The money just circles in a very unproductive way. Now P - there's an export product! Unfortunately there are high barriers to entry, including devastating communities and gangs having a bit of a monopoly...

Hirini