Gangs in New Zealand

There are numerous gangs in New Zealand, of varying criminality, organisation and ethnicity. According to the New Zealand Police, the three most prominent New Zealand gangs are Black Power (not related to the African-American movement); the Mongrel Mob, and the Nomads. [http://www.police.govt.nz/service/cib/organised_crime.html New Zealand Police Criminal Investigation Branch: Organised Crime] ] Other gangs are prominent in particular areas, for example the Junior Don Kings (JDK) and Dope Money Sex (DMS) in Central Auckland. [ [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=217&objectid=10458733 Gang pack rapes random, alcohol-fuelled] The New Zealand Herald 20 August 2007]

According to sociologist Jarrod Gilbert, New Zealand has had problems with youth and street gangs since the 1950s. However organised crime gangs such as those which currently dominate the New Zealand scene mostly date from the 1970s. 'Gangsta' style gangs have been a presence in New Zealand since the early 1990s but individual gangs of this type are typically short lived. New Zealand gangs have generally been heavily influenced by their American counterparts. Although Black Power takes its name from the black liberation movement of the same name, in many ways it and similar gangs are much more akin to white American motorcycle gangs such as the Hell's Angels. Since the early 1990s newer gangs have primarily been influenced by African American street gangs such as the Crips and Bloods. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=217&objectid=10458400 'Bash, bling and blood' - 18 Aug 2007 - Gang News - NZ Herald ] ]

Gang members are a minority of New Zealand criminals. A New Zealand Ministry of Justice study showed that in 1991 just under 80% of prison inmates had no gang history, and just over 90% had no current gang membership. Of the prison population, 4% were members of the Mongrel Mob and 4.3% former members, while 3.6% were current and 3.2% former members of Black Power. No other gang had more than one percent of the prison population. [ [http://www.justice.govt.nz/pubs/reports/pre-1995/chapter-14.html Ministry of Justice - Census of Prison Inmates 1991] ] A similar study in 2003 showed that 11.3% of prison inmates were gang members. Of these, about a third each were Mongrel Mob or Black Power, with no other gangs having more than 5% of the imprisoned gang population. [ [http://www.corrections.govt.nz/public/research/census/2003/gang-membership/index.html Corrections Department - Gang Membership.] ]

Prominent gangs

Black Power

Black Power was formed in the late 1960s in Whakatane, and its membership is primarily Māori and Pacific Islander. It has been involved with various kinds of crime, particularly drug dealing. Its symbol is the clenched fist of the American black power movement, and its colours are blue and black.

Hells Angels MC

The Hells Angels motorcycle club founded a chapter in Auckland in 1961 and has since taken over gangs in Wanganui. The Auckland chapter was the first official Hells Angel chapter formed outside of the U.S.A.

Highway 61 MC

The Highway 61 motorcycle club is currently the largest outlaw motorcycle club in New Zealand. The motorcycle club currently has chapters in Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, Hastings, Rotorua, Wellington, and also Sydney, Australia. [ [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10120987 'Drug trade: Gangs divvy up drug trade's spoils', nzherald.co.nz] ]

Mongrel Mob

The Mongrel Mob was formed and organised in Hastings in the late 1960s or early 1970s and, like its Black Power rivals, is primarily Māori and Pacific Islander. The gang has been active in organised crime and has been involved in several murders. Its symbol is a bulldog wearing a German Stahlhelm helmet, and the gang makes use of other Nazi imagery. Their colours are red and white. The Mongrel Mob is currently the biggest gang in New Zealand.

Nomads

In 1977 the Nomads split from Black Power. [ [http://www.nzedge.co.nz/features/ar-denis01.html Denis O'Reilly, 'Nga Kupu Aroha: Words of Love', nzedge.co.nz.] ]

Road Knights MC

The Road Knights motorcycle club is the dominant gang in the South Island. The Road Knights MC is believed to have connections to white power skinhead groups. [cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/4590817a11.html|title=Gang tensions on knife edge|publisher=The Southland Times|date=20 June 2008|first=Dyland|last=Thorne|accessdate=2008-07-03]

Tribesmen MC

The Tribesmen is a prominently Māori motorcycle club formed in the 1980s in Otara. It is connected to the Killa Beez youth street gang. [cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10487652|title=Gang presence growing since early days in Otara|publisher=The New Zealand Herald|first=Patrick|last=Gower|date=19 January 2008]

Other gangs

*Devil's Henchmen MC (Christchurch)
*Epitaph Riders MC (Christchurch)
*Filthy Few MC (Bay of Plenty) – absorbed by the Hell's AngelsFact|date=July 2008
*Forty Five MC (Takanini)
*King Cobras (Auckland) – formed in central Auckland during the 1960s, K.C started as a Polynesian gang but has since included other ethnicities.Fact|date=July 2008
*Lone Legion MC (Blenhein)
*Lost Breed MC (Nelson)
*Magogs MC (New Plymouth)
*Mothers MC (Palmerston North)
*Outcasts MC (Hamilton)
*Outlaws MC (Napier)
*Satans Slaves MC (Wellington)
*Sinn Fein MC (Upper Hutt)
*Southern Vikings MC (Dunedin)
*Templars MC (Christchurch)
*Titans MC (Matamata)
*Grim Reapers MC
*StormTroopers MC (Nationwide)

[ [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10120987 'Drug trade: Gangs divvy up drug trade's spoils', nzherald.co.nz] ]

Opposition

Some politicians have called for gang patches to be made illegal. [ [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=217&objectid=10421380 Sharples calls for tougher line on gang problems - 29 Jan 2007 - Gang News - NZ Herald ] ] [ [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=217&objectid=10421449 Sharples' gangs call divides opinions - 30 Jan 2007 - Gang News - NZ Herald ] ] [ [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=217&objectid=10427095 Gang patches could be banned nationwide - 05 Mar 2007 - Gang News - NZ Herald ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4285711a19754.html Court told of family's clashes with gang]
* [http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4316113a19753.html Gangs recruiting, setting up chapters in Timaru]
* [http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4521813a24035.html National to target drugs]
* [http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4455504a13135.html Our Underbelly]
* [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/index.cfm?c_id=217 Main NZ Herald page for gang related news]