Kaitaia's North Road Dairy was closed while the police gathered evidence. Photo / Northern Advocate
Kaitaia's North Road Dairy was closed while the police gathered evidence. Photo / Northern Advocate
An iwi leader says the armed robbery of a Kaitaia dairy on Sunday by two teenagers was a direct result of the "limited windows of opportunity" young people have in the Far North.
North Road Dairy owner Dipika Patel was in the store when an armed 12-year-old boy, who policebelieve was on methamphetamine, entered demanding money at 8.35pm on Sunday.
CCTV footage shows him pointing a gun across the counter at Ms Patel.
With his face covered by a black bandanna, he tries to steal some sweets at the counter but appears intoxicated, stumbles and is unable to stuff them in his pockets.
An older boy, believed to be 15, was also involved.
But Te Rarawa iwi leader Haami Piripi told Newstalk ZB, while the images were "shocking", people shouldn't be too quick to demonise the teenagers.
He said it was an "economic phenomenon" that was being seen around the world and stemmed from a lack of basic needs such as healthcare, education and housing.
"It's terrible, it's shocking. The thing is that they are still children...young kids round here have virtually nothing to do, just walk up and down the street. It's a really hard hole to climb out of.
