All quiet as Angels arrive for poker run

Thirty Hells Angels members roared into Nelson about 5pm yesterday for the start of a planned charity poker run.

There was no visible police presence as the bikers made their way from Hira to the Beachcomber Motor Inn in Tahunanui, where they are staying.

One marked police car with three officers was seen driving past the motel before 6pm.

While the Hells Angels' arrival in Nelson was low-key, they came under strong police scrutiny either side of Cook Strait.

Inspector Kevin Riordan of Wellington police said five bikers were suspended from riding their motorcycles because they were riding bikes with a bigger CC rating than their licences allowed.

One biker was arrested over unpaid court fines totalling several thousand dollars, and was also charged with possessing cannabis.

In Nelson, a line of bikes parked under a banner reading "Hells Angels NZ National Ride" was visible from the road at the Beachcomber.

The bikers have travelled to Nelson to attend a charity poker run that marks the first anniversary of the first public outing of patched Red Devils members. The Red Devils is a front gang for the Hells Angels, and police believe that Nelson has four Red Devils members.

Senior Sergeant Grant Andrews, of Motueka police, who is heading Operation Joker 2, which will cover the gang presence over the weekend, said today there were no reports of trouble overnight.

He said police would be focusing on all gangs, and there was no suggestion that there was going to be any violence.

The bikers were expected to meet at Isel Park in Stoke about 12.30pm today for a ride.

It was uncertain if the planned poker run would go ahead today after St John, the event's designated charity, said it would not accept any money from the event.

The Turf Hotel in Stoke and the Tapawera Hotel, which was to have been the last venue on the ride, also pulled out because of negative publicity.

A flyer for the poker run says it is organised by Nelson Bays Motorcycle Events.

The Nelson Mail approached the Hells Angels yesterday, but a gang spokesman said it would not be making any comment.

Mr Andrews said police were on alert after a threat was made on radio this week by a man claiming to be part a group known as the Southern Skinheads.

The group's president, known as Max, warned that it would burn any pubs the Hells Angels drank at and "probably try to shoot them off their motorbikes". Mr Andrews said police had not been able to trace Max from the number used.

- © Fairfax NZ News