A Punch in the Face – a Blow to Our Community

By Mark Flyger

Prevented from walking out of a Hamilton supermarket with a trolley full of stolen groceries, a young man turned his frustration into violence—punching an elderly gentleman in the face and stealing his groceries instead.

What a shameful, cowardly act—targeting an older man who had simply tried to do the right thing. He stood up for honesty, only to be assaulted for it.

As I did my own supermarket shop yesterday, I couldn’t help but wonder: how are ordinary families affording this? And what about those living paycheck to paycheck, or worse, with no paycheck at all?

Groceries are fast becoming a luxury for many.

Let me be clear: I do not, under any circumstances, condone theft.

Supermarket theft doesn’t just harm businesses—it drives up prices for the rest of us, creating a vicious cycle. But we can’t ignore the pressure-cooker environment that fuels these incidents.

We're in the middle of a cost of living crisis. Groceries, rents, insurances, rates—everything is skyrocketing.

Politicians will tell you it’s complicated, that global pressures are to blame. But to those of us living it day to day, the reality is stark and simple: prices keep going up.

One major driver? Cost pressures along the supply chain. When councils increase rates, those costs are passed on to businesses—who then pass them on to us. Last year, Hamilton saw a 16.5% rate increase. This year, another 15.5%. That’s not sustainable. It’s pushing grocery prices even higher, and, tragically, some people to desperation.

But it doesn’t stop at rates. Other well-meaning initiatives also play a role—like traffic calming measures funded through the so-called "Climate Emergency Relief Fund." Hamilton City Council applied for and used this money to install raised crossings, speed humps, bus stop replacements, bike lanes, traffic islands and more.

We all see them. We all navigate them daily.

What’s often overlooked, though, is their impact on the supply chain. Slower travel means longer delivery times. Longer delivery times mean higher labour and fuel costs for tradies, contractors, and delivery drivers. Those costs don’t just disappear—they show up in your checkout total.

And again, prices go up.

Rates increase then rents rise. Businesses pass that cost on. Workers need higher wages just to keep up. Those wages? Passed on in prices. Again. And again.

So how did our Council respond to this escalating crisis?

They reprioritised $31.5 million for a walking bridge across the Waikato River. They cut free parking in town from two hours to one. They abandoned $104 million in potential savings on staff. They deferred nearly $75 million set aside for a desperately needed wastewater plant.

In other words, they fiddled while Rome burned.

They put unsightly barriers up around town and supported niche transport projects ahead of the real, everyday needs of struggling families and working people. And these initiatives came from left leaning and Green Councillors!

Is it any wonder our town centre feels less safe? That violence is spilling over into our daily lives?

That a good, brave elderly man got punched in the face—for a bag of groceries?

That punch wasn’t just aimed at him. It was a blow to our sense of safety, our dignity, and our community. And until we address the root causes—not just the symptoms—we will see more desperation, more crime, and more heartbreak