National Party leader Christopher Luxon visited Nelson today as part of his final week of campaigning before Saturday’s election.
The potential 42nd Prime Minister’s first stop was Nelson’s Milton Street Store, which was ram raided overnight in recent weeks with offenders reversing a vehicle into the front doors before leaving with vapes.
Its owner, Kimthien Lam, told Mr Luxon that crime such as theft had increased at her store in the past year and the recent ram raid had heightened her anxiety.
Her son, Minh Ly, who also works at the dairy, told Mr Luxon it was hard to see his mother scared and anxious and to deal with the damage the ram raiders had left.
“I think the hardest thing is dealing with the damage to our door, coming in and out is not easy, and just having plywood there it sort of sits in the back of your mind, it’s not very secure,” he says.
“The steel framing [for the replacement door] has to be made and then we’ve got another supplier to get it done within four more weeks, which is a lot better than the initial eight weeks to get the door nailed, but it’s still quite a bit of a hassle.”
Mr Luxon told Kimthien and Minh their situation was “tragic”.
“At the moment everyone feels that they’re getting away with it, and that’s the problem,” he says.
“Our government’s been pretty soft on crime to be honest and as a result of that we haven't had serious consequences for serious offenders.
“You’ve worked hard to make this business, and then to have it all destroyed because crime’s out of control, not being well managed, and then you’re hit with all those extra costs, plus all the trauma, and the stress and the anxiety… that’s what we’ve got to fix.”
After departing the store, Mr Luxon, along with Nelson candidate for the National Party, Blair Cameron, hit the central city streets for a walkabout, before Mr Luxon departed for Blenheim.
