Gang incident sparks fiery meeting
Hostile voices angry at lack of intervention
An impromptu public meeting in Coromandel Town called to ease tensions and address a serious gang assault turned ugly when some attendees hurled profanities and threats towards the speakers.
The meeting was hosted by National Party candidate for Coromandel Scott Simpson, organised “at super-short notice” and featured National’s police spokesman Mark Mitchell.
The area’s business association commented that Coromandel Town locals have been left fearful after members of the Rebels gang spent the weekend of September 15-17 attacking a member of the public, and stealing from and intimidating local business owners.
A video shared with the NZ Herald shows up to 10 men, some in Rebels patches, surrounding a young man, kicking and punching him as he lay on the ground outside the Coromandel Smoking Company on September 15.
The HC Post was in attendance at the meeting, held on Wednesday, September 20.
The meeting was marred by hostile voices from the floor who bemoaned a perceived lack of action in interdicting the gang’s activities from the town’s police, Scott Simpson, and Thames Coromandel District Council Mayor Len Salt.
Many attendees chose to walk out before the scheduled close, with one woman saying she was leaving because “it is all bull **** . Another man became verbally abusive and was reprimanded by Mitchell who refused to answer further questions from the objector.
No uniformed member of the police was present at the meeting.
A woman who had been on the scene of one of the violent attacks and aided the assaulted man was at the meeting and said she was petrified of repercussions.
“I stopped because I wanted to stop, but now I am thinking should I have stopped?” she asked while worrying about her face and car registration going viral on social media.
A woman who said she was an aunty of one of the victims took issue with the community’s lack of action and said if they all banded together they could help prevent the attacks.
She did not trust the political systems and police in New Zealand to stop the influx of gangs.
National police spokesman Mark Mitchell said Coromandel locals remained scared and a businessperson was threatened by an “unsavoury” element during the public meeting.
“Unfortunately there was an unsavoury group that arrived and wanted to take a position in favour of the gangs and their rights,” Mitchell told Newstalk ZB’S Kerre Woodham.
He added that residents were “tired of the gang presence, tired of all the methamphetamine and tired of all of the social issues”.
“One of the local moteliers confronted the group and was told ‘to keep his mouth shut or we will do it for you’.
“It became tense and so the group was asked to leave.”
Last week, Rebels North West chapter gang boss contacted Coromandel radio station CFM and issued an apology on air. The gang leader, who was not identified, said he was trying to take responsibility for what unfolded at the weekend.
“To the Coromandel community, on behalf of the Rebels North West community, I would like to address the events that happened on Sunday, the 17th of September. First and foremost, I would like to formally apologise personally on behalf of the Rebels Northwest Chapter for our harmful behaviour.
“We understand and sympathise with the harm caused and as a local to Coromandel — I am deeply saddened by what our presence left.”
The president said the local chapter had never experienced this type of incident before in their own community.
“I did speak to all the lads before going down there to make sure they work on their public relations and smile and say, ‘hello and g’day’.
“Once again, I give my deepest apologies to everyone who has been affected or for anyone who felt intimidated by our presence.”
The gang boss promised only members of the chapter who actually lived in the Coromandel would be present in the community from now on.
“There will be no large rides as long as I’m president.“i put a ban so only the local ones will be riding there. We’ve been in the area for 10 years since 2015, seven of us live here and we’re from there.”
The chapter was staying in an isolated home in Kennedy Bay, and they had been keeping to themselves and trying not to affect the community, said the gang boss.
“We’ve gone pig hunting, we’ve made the pig on a spit, we’ve gone fishing and we weren’t wearing colours when all this was going on. The only time we wear patches is when we are riding motorcycles.”
Mark Mitchell said he was sceptical about whether the apology was genuine and queried the claim by Rebel gang members over who started the skirmish.
The president said the gang did not initiate the fight, and CCTV footage would prove that.
“The questions [police] need to ask is why are the victims not making written statements and who threw the first punch?”
The men, some in Rebels patches, surround a young man, kicking and punching him as he lays on the ground.
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One of the local moteliers confronted the group and was told ‘to keep his mouth shut or we will do it for you’.