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.
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. 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.
Prominent New Zealand 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.Head Hunters MC
The Head Hunters motorcycle club have a stranglehold over the Waitakere region of Auckland.Hells Angels MC
The Hells Angels motorcycle club founded a chapter in Auckland in 1961 and has since taken over gangs in Hastings, Wanganui and Palmerston North. 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, Christchurch and even have a chapter in Sydney, Australia.Mongrel Mob
The Mongrel Mob were 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.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.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.Other Gangs
- Devil's Henchmen MC (Christchurch)
- Epitaph Riders MC (Christchurch)
- Filthy Few MC (Bay of Plenty) -absorbed by the Hell's Angels
- Forty Five MC (Takanini)
- King Cobras (Auckland) -formed in central Auckland during the 60's K.C started as a Polynesian gang but has since included other nationalities.
- 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)
Opposition
Some politicians have called for gang patches to be made illegal.References
- Court told of family's clashes with gang
- Gangs recruiting, setting up chapters in Timaru
- National to target drugs
- Our Underbelly
References
Notes
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Last updated on Friday July 25, 2008 at 12:43:07 PDT (GMT -0700)
View this article at Wikipedia.org - Edit this article at Wikipedia.org - Donate to the Wikimedia Foundation
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.
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. 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.
Prominent New Zealand 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.Head Hunters MC
The Head Hunters motorcycle club have a stranglehold over the Waitakere region of Auckland.Hells Angels MC
The Hells Angels motorcycle club founded a chapter in Auckland in 1961 and has since taken over gangs in Hastings, Wanganui and Palmerston North. 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, Christchurch and even have a chapter in Sydney, Australia.Mongrel Mob
The Mongrel Mob were 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.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.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.Other Gangs
- Devil's Henchmen MC (Christchurch)
- Epitaph Riders MC (Christchurch)
- Filthy Few MC (Bay of Plenty) -absorbed by the Hell's Angels
- Forty Five MC (Takanini)
- King Cobras (Auckland) -formed in central Auckland during the 60's K.C started as a Polynesian gang but has since included other nationalities.
- 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)
Opposition
Some politicians have called for gang patches to be made illegal.References
- Court told of family's clashes with gang
- Gangs recruiting, setting up chapters in Timaru
- National to target drugs
- Our Underbelly
References
Notes
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Last updated on Friday July 25, 2008 at 12:43:07 PDT (GMT -0700)
View this article at Wikipedia.org - Edit this article at Wikipedia.org - Donate to the Wikimedia Foundation
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