"It is important we put supports around them," she said. "Yes, the welfare statistics are there to show just how many of these gang members are actually reliant on the taxpayer for funding their lifestyles, while at the same time they are making extraordinary amounts of money through their networks, producing methamphetamine."
A recently released MSD report found nine out of every 10 gang members had received a main benefit, with an estimated $525 million paid in welfare assistance between January 1 1993 and December 31 2014. It also found 60 per cent of children in these families were the subject of abuse or neglect.
Minister Tolley said the Government's Gang Action Plan was the best way forward.
"So a whole-of-Government action plan that combines work from both my colleagues the minister of police and the minister of corrections, and also the social support for their families, are important to address long-term the issues of the harm that gangs do."
Two community pilots that will support partners and children of gang members were also announced by minister Tolley. This will see the MSD partner with local service providers to offer "wraparound" support as well as education, mentoring and employment.
The two pilots, which will also work with gang members wanting to leave their gang, will cost $1.1 million over two-and-a-half years. Further initiatives are to be announced.
However, Mr Guthrie still asserts that anyone associated with gangs should be thrown out of state housing.
"Housing New Zealand has a huge waiting list of good honest families wanting and in need of accommodation ... whether it be Black Power, Mongrel Mob, Hell's Angels, Nomads or any gang for that fact, they are all criminals and New Zealand taxpayers shouldn't be funding their lifestyles like we are now."
Mr Ball says there has been a 700 per cent increase in the number of state houses contaminated with methamphetamine.
"That's 350 state houses used by criminals and now empty, costing millions to clean."