Town unites against gangs

MIKE WATSON/The Dominion Post

SHORT AND SWEET: A young child makes her feelings clear in the Murupara march.

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Angry residents of a town that has lost two young men in gang-related incidents are demanding gang members leave.

About 250 people marched through the Bay of Plenty town of Murupara yesterday, holding banners and chanting "What do we want? Safe streets, safe homes, safe town!"

The hikoi included the families of the two dead youths, residents, MPs Todd McClay and Te Ururoa Flavell, kaumatua, police and Tribesmen gang members.

Other gang members, faces shielded by bandannas, watched from a distance as the marchers walked solemnly from the town centre to where the youths were killed.

The two victims, schoolboy Jordan Herewini, 16, and Kaine Lewis, 17, died eight months apart in incidents resulting from gang confrontations.

Kaine was found fatally injured on the driveway of a Tawa St house early on Saturday morning after a confrontation between the Tribesmen and Mongrel Mob gangs.

Seven people have been arrested in relation to Kaine's death and charged with being a member of a criminal organisation.

Jordan died in a hit-and-run in January behind his home in Matai St. A Kawerau Mongrel Mob member is awaiting trial for the death.

Family members of each youth laid flowers yesterday and said karakia at the two sites.

Kaine's cousin, David Lewis, said the hikoi was a show of strength from the community against gangs.

"It was a cowardly act by some people who only know themselves why they retaliated in this way."

He said he supported zero tolerance of gangs if it made Murupara and nearby Kaingaroa village safer places to live.

Jordan's mother, Natalie Cowley, said the march was a good start for the community to rally against violence.

"Neither Jordan or Kaine had any gang connections but they got caught up with some of the people who do."

With Ms Cowley was Jordan's partner Taknaya Harris-Beattie, who was holding the couple's five month-old child, Nelsena-Jordan.

The baby was born after Jordan died.

Ngati Manawa kaumatua Pem Bird said the town had decided to take a hard stand against gangs.

"We're past taking a conciliatory line anymore, we are going to adopt a hardline attitude."

Mr Bird said a proposed peace pact between the Tribesmen and Mongrel Mob, brokered by kaumatua, was now not possible after the death of Kaine.

"The town fears there will be more revenge. I have spoken to the Tribesmen leadership and they have given me their word there will be no more trouble."

The gangs were a cancer in the town which needed to be cut out, he said.

Mr Flavell, a Maori Party MP, said he could not believe Murupara had become an unsafe place to walk around in.

"I could believe it in Auckland, or Christchurch, but not Murupara."

Mr Flavell said the "fringe element" must rejoin the community for the violence to stop.

Mr McClay, National MP for Rotorua, said the march was a clear message to gangs that their illegal acts would no longer be tolerated.

Gangs destroyed communities and it was time for them to go, Mr McClay said.

- © Fairfax NZ News