Gangs a bigger force than army

Meghan Lawrence

New Zealand is said to have more gang members than soldiers.

More than 5300 members or “prospects” are lining up to join one of 25 listed groups.

A recent article by the Economist quoted police saying gangs were a bigger force than the army, and organised criminal groups were thriving in rural areas as well as cities.

The Hell’s Angels, Head Hunters, Nomads and Killer Beez all have a presence in New Zealand. Black Power and the Mongrel Mob have ruled the roost for almost half a century.

Police say three-quarters of the country’s gang members are Maori — despite the fact they make up just 15 per cent of the population. Eugene Ryder, Black Power

Many said they joined as much for whanau as for money, power or thrills, the Economist said.

“People have this idea we are all rapists and murderers and methamphetamine cooks. But not all gang members are criminals,” lamented Eugene Ryder, a leader of Black Power in Wellington, who requires his underlings to study or take fulltime jobs.

For decades gangs have fought ruthlessly for turf, beaten and raped women, and pushed wannabe members into violent crime to earn their stripes, but the Economist reports times are changing and ageing leaders are now prohibiting gang rapes and campaigning against methamphetamine use.

Leaders are also said to now criticise, rather than joke about, domestic violence, and street battles have grown less frequent.

Neil Campbell, who heads the Maori division of the Corrections Department, told the Economist some “prosocial” gang members really “do want better for their children”.

But despite a move towards reform, about a third of inmates are gang members and gangs account for more than 14 per cent of all murder charges, according to police.

The Economist reports locking gang members up has arguably exacerbated the problem, by turning jails into recruitment grounds.