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South Auckland businessman Peter Low is trying to revive his anti-crime campaign with a new emphasis on education and working with Maori and Pacific Islanders.
Singapore-born Mr Low was heavily criticised this month for suggesting victims of crime could call in triads if the police could not respond.
Yesterday, he promoted a much softer line, ahead of the Asian Anti-crime Group's first public meeting this Sunday with Maori and Pacific communities.
He said he wanted to discuss how ethnic minorities could work together to fight crime in New Zealand.
Mr Low, who said his statement about bringing in the triads was a misquote as a result of "misleading questions by journalists", is also expected to make his stand clear at Sunday's meeting.
He has released an open letter on the group's website saying: "I was misled by some interviewers' question ... Some of words were not well chosen and hence were taken out of context, particularly those involving triads."
Mr Low said that after a 15,000- strong protest march on July 5, journalists asked "ridiculous questions" and made "silly requests" such as asking him to throw mock punches at a colleague for television news.
He said he was "forced to keep a low profile" as journalists continued to stalk him, and was being monitored by the police after the media misquoted him on the triads.
"I did say we would call in the triads as a last resort, but it was just to emphasise a worst-case scenario if the government and police continue to ignore the cries of the people - but the media chose to interpret it differently," he said.
About 300 people, including ethnic community leaders and representatives of Manukau City Council, will attend Sunday's meeting, organised by the AAG and hosted by Te Hapu o Ngai Tupango.
Mr Low said: "Crime doesn't just happen to Asians but to everyone, so we in the AAG feel we should work hand in hand with other communities to prevent crime."
In a total change of tune from advocating self-defence and martial arts, Mr Low said he would be promoting "education" as the new approach to fighting crime.
"Look, the economy is bad and people are struggling to make ends meet, and people with not enough money and no skill to turn their lives around, may be tempted to resort to crime," he said.
He said his anti-crime group would be suggesting pooling resources with other communities to provide free education and skills training.
It was also planning a bigger protest, involving mainstream New Zealanders, for nearer the elections.
"We are determined to get the message to the incoming government that we want tougher sentencing, and that it is their duty to protect all New Zealanders from crime."