Law gives patch ban power
BY MARTIN KAY
Two years and a day after Wanganui toddler Jhia Te Tua was killed in a Mongrel Mob drive-by shooting, the town has been given the power to ban gang patches.
Parliament last night narrowly voted through a member's bill from Whanganui MP Chester Borrows that allows the district council to make bylaws banning all gang insignia, except tattoos, from public places.
Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws said he would ask the council to enact bylaws as soon as possible. He expected the provision would be rolled out to other councils as many mayors had told him they wanted similar powers.
"It's a triumph for decency and democracy. This has huge implications for New Zealand. I can't tell you how absolutely thrilled I am."
The bill was passed almost two years to the day after Jhia was shot dead when a bullet fired during a gang hit on her parents' house passed through the living room wall and into her body as she lay on a couch.
Her father, Josh Te Tua, was a Black Power member and the shooting followed confrontations between the two gangs on May 5, 2007.
Three men were found guilty of her murder and sentenced in February to life imprisonment. Two others pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
The shooting came after a spate of gang clashes in Wanganui in 2006, prompting Mr Laws to propose a bylaw banning patches, seen as a principle catalyst for violence.
Mr Borrows brought the bill after police said that they would be reluctant to enforce any bylaw without parliamentary sanction.
The law allows the council to designate public areas where gang patches and other insignia identified with certain gangs cannot be worn.
The targeted gangs are the Mongrel Mob, Black Power, Hells Angels, Magogs, Mothers, Nomads and Tribesmen, but the council can add others.
Fines of up to $2000 will be imposed for breaching a ban, and police will have the power to seize patches and other insignia.
Mr Borrows paid tribute to the people of Wanganui after the law passed.
"They had the guts to put it up knowing it was going to draw attention to their town in a negative way, but they held their hand up and said, `We've got a problem, it's around the country, but we're tough enough to deal with it."'
The bill passed after ACT leader Rodney Hide who previously opposed it voted in favour. Two more of ACT's five MPs, David Garrett and John Boscawen, backed it, along with National and UnitedFuture's Peter Dunne, giving 62 votes in support, with 59 against.
Meanwhile, the threat of losing their patch will lead to gangs changing their behaviour, Police Association president Greg O'Connor says.
Mr O'Connor believed it would have a huge effect on the intimidation factor of gangs.
"You don't go down to Woolworths and buy a patch. These people have to commit serious crime to get it, so they'll be doing what they can to hold on to it," he told Radio New Zealand.
"The gangs will now change their behaviour. You won't see them strutting their stuff."
Mr O'Connor accepted that the legislation was "no silver bullet" but said it was a start.
"While it is not going to have gang members quivering in their boots, it is going to annoy them," he said.
Mr O'Connor predicted many other towns, particularly provincial centres, would follow Wanganui's lead – a view backed by Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws.
"I've talked to mayors throughout the country who have been waiting for Wanganui's lead. The flow-on effects will be huge," he said.
"New Zealand is saying that gangs are an alien and criminal menace in our midst, that they are home grown terrorists and that our society has had enough."
Mr O'Connor said no one would get a $2000 fine – but they would lose their patch.
"The important thing is going to be the arrest, putting them in the cells and, most importantly, taking the patch," he said.
"For a start, it'll be evidence and you're not going to get it back."
CALL TO ENFORCE BYLAW
A Wanganui shopkeeper who blames gangs for vandalising his store has welcomed the banning of patches, but said it would not make a difference unless enforced properly.
Kerry Purvis, who did not want his shop named for fear of reprisals, said gang members were a nuisance on Victoria Ave, the city's main street.
He blamed them for smashing his storefront window during the night two years ago.
While banning patches would help the problem, it would not work unless everyone took the law seriously and reported offenders to police, he said.
Terrie Farr, manager of River City Picture Framers, did not know whether the new law would change much.
Her shop is directly opposite a Work and Income branch, where gang members often congregated.
"[Gangs] seem to be a law unto themselves ... they won't take any notice."
- with NZPA
- © Fairfax NZ News
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This is what needs to be done. Action. ANY steps taken to degrade & cut down GANGS are all steps in the right direction. They serve NO PURPOSE to society AT ALL. If anything, build more jails.. more severe penalties.. because you cant put a price on the lives these people may take in their quest to flood NZ with illegal drugs, intimidation & turf wars with other gangs. Sounds like the death penalty is in order for the murderous gang members? Saves tax payers from forking their cash out to house them in NZ prisons huh? You really wanna pay to house & feed the killer or drug dealer of your child/ relative? Didn't think so... its not as if they've put a jihad out. they're small time terrorists.. they're scum. Eradicate them. Power to the Police & Law Enforcement agencies.
The Labour Party voted AGAINST this bill which proves they are very,very,soft on law and order. The same applies to the Green Party. We have seen far too much lieniency and ground given by Labour in pursuit of "Political Correctness" gone mad. No wonder we are witnessing the current event in Napier, Murapara and the list goes on. Labour are very bad news on law and order and the National Govt has a hard job to redress that.
I was in a gang once, then one of the other fellas moved to another primary school, so we had to break up. Gang members are weak individuals who can't face society on their own. I'm all for anything that degrades & penalises these scum monkeys, I just hope they don't thrive on the attention. They need dealt with Jake the Mus styles, individually they're just cats beginning with p.
Supporters of this law are deluded if you think it will stop crime from these thugs let alone them NOT wearing their patch.
Such knee-jerk reactions normally get knee-jerk responses!
This NIMBY knee jerk reaction will just transplant Wanganui's problem to another NZ city or town near you. And when every that next town introduces this law and the gangs tire of moving all the time and decide enough is enough the fall-out then will be on your hands Mayor Laws - didnt think of that legacy being attributed to you did you?
Biscuit
Eugenics is a bad idea, we are not suggesting that it is a good one.
We're about saving society, there is nothing eugenic about a little pruning of individuals who decide to live outside of society is there?
Or are you a sympathiser (nay collaborator)
We are coming. Be ready...
Novus Ordo Seclorum
@ Biscuit, if you must lecture people, please at least study, research and report factually! Children who are removed from violent, criminal offending, and gang related homes early enough, actually get to experience a REAL and nurturing, healthy childhood combining, education, morals, discipline and sport etc.
People are angry, gangs are now rich, powerful and a law unto themselves, others are allowed to vent their frustrations, and say what they think and feel. No one ever helps anyone by discrediting the wider contributing members of a community. You seem highly critical and judgmental towards the wrong group. Go mad at the gang community, not those who are sick of it.
Re: "gang bludgers caused the economic crisis", really, no. What caused the economic crisis was a combination of two things: greedy property "investors" who expected ridiculous gains for doing nothing, and a economic/monetary system that is sufficiently complicated that leeches disguised as businessmen can sit there doing nothing of any practical benefit to anyone while diverting cash into their own pockets.
Re: banning patches, how can we predict the results? Let's just see how it goes. It might help, who knows?
well my opinion is that people should stop seeing gangs as bad people i know alot ov people in gangs and they aint harsh people they are very kind and harmless.
there is no point in banning gang patches they are still going to wear them.
and as for you who thinks that you are going to drive them off the cliff you gotah be kiding me because you will be killing yourself you idiot so get a life and stop thinking your so hard.
so yes this is my opinion on banging gang patches ITS A STUPID IDEA..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ONE MORE THING IF YOU ARE TRYING TO CUT THE BENIFIT OFF FOR GANG MEMBERS NOT TO HAVE IT IS NOT GOING TO WORK BECAUSE THEY CAN STIL;L GO IN AND ACT LIKE THEY AINT APART OF A GANG...
SO SUSH YOUR BUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A better idea would be for every New Zealander to wear gang insignia.
This would render such insignia pointless - as well as infuriating the sub-normal dolts who join gangs.
Gang membership should simply be illegal with a mandatory life sentence to be served out on some far away sub-antarctic island with no phones or contact with humanity, enforced by naval blockade.
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Do you think politicians spend too much on travel?
TO be honest I believe that this is a good thing for not just Wanganui but also for New Zealand.
I myself know what it is like to be around areas and people who are in gangs. ''To make a difference is to save one young persons life'' in terms to banning gang patches from being worn out in the public, is to minimise the fear in each person mind of how they portray gangs that wear patches.
I'm not saying it is a breech to the right of freedom of expression, but exactly saying that it must be dealt with. Because I am a teenager who knows, and you should get teens involved, because we know best.
South Auckland is a high risk in which gangs are located everywhere. This is an issue that needs to be dealt with. As I'm going to say think of how children and teens feel. It's time to address this law and make it nationally recognised.