Nelson gang charity bike ride goes ahead

ROBERT KITCHIN/The Dominion Post

TAKE IT EASY: Police yesterday kept a close eye on Wellington Hells Angels members, who have angered Nelson skinheads by staying at a local beachside suburb.

Despite death threats from a skinhead gang, a charity motorcycle ride involving gang members took place without incident in Nelson today.

The Poker Run, which involved members of Hells Angels and the Red Devils, had been threatened by the self-professed leader of the little known Southern Skinheads, who said the Hells Angels were not welcome in Nelson because they would bring the drug P with them.

"We will burn any pub they drink at, any motel they stay at, and may take it to the extent we will probably try to shoot them off their motorbikes," Southern Skinheads leader "Max" said on radio this week.

The result was that some hotels pulled out of hosting the riders and the intended charity, St John Nelson, said it would not accept any money from the Poker Run.

But today, at 12.30pm, the run left Isel Park gardens in Stoke, Nelson.

"There were approximately 130 motorcycles involved in the run," said Motueka Senior Sergeant Grant Andrews, officer commanding Operation Joker 2, the police operation set up to handle any trouble.

Police noted that there were approximately 35-40 gang patches from both the Hells Angels and the Red Devils among the riders.

The run left Stoke and travelled to Mapua. After a short stay there, it continued on out to Marahau beach. After remaining there the group traveled through to Upper Moutere via Westbank Road. It finished at the Kraut's Restaurant on Tahunanui Drive at 5.30pm and the prize-giving was expected to take place there.

"Generally the run was well behaved and there were no complaints or incidents involving motorcyclist on the run," Mr Andrews said.

"There were no arrests or confrontation involving any other gang or groups."

- NZPA