Australasian Biker News
Tensions rise ahead of gang gathering
29.05.2008
by Kelly Makiha
Tensions have risen as hundreds of Tribesmen and Killer Beez gang
members from across the North Island prepare to head to the region this
weekend.
Police have issued a stern warning to the gangs - they won't tolerate
members "running amok" in our region.
But one gang leader has told the Daily Post they are planning a peaceful
and fun event and it will only "turn ugly" if the police "get in our
way".
Murupara's Tribesmen Motorcycle Gang is holding its inaugural poker run
on Saturday.
The event will see gang members, mainly on motorcycles, travelling to
five different secret locations in the Murupara area.
They will be dealt a card at each stop, the winner being the person with
the best poker hand.
Tribesmen leader Peter Hunt from Murupara said the winner would get a
trophy, cash and taonga (treasure) from Ngati Manawa, the iwi of
Murupara.
He described the poker run as a "whakapapa run", with contestants
learning about the Ngati Manawa area at each location.
He wouldn't disclose the cash prize, saying it depended on how many
contestants entered. Each had to pay a $20 fee.
He said more than 150 gang members from Murupara, Northland, Auckland
and Wellington would stay at Tipapa and Rangitahi marae in Murupara and
were expected to arrive tomorrow night.
"That's just whanau. There will be more supporters coming with them."
Mr Hunt's partner and fellow poker run organiser Mavis Boynton said she
expected the odd gang member would "play up" to police.
"But [the police] are looking at the worst case scenario.
"They are not looking at the positives that come out of this," Ms
Boynton said.
Mr Hunt said the gang had met with police and told them they would abide
by the law "as best we could".
"If they get in our way, it will get ugly. But we don't want it to get
ugly," Mr Hunt said.
Rotorua police area controller Inspector Bruce Horne said the gang had
been warned they had to obey the same rules as everyone else.
"If you think you can bring a whole lot of gang members to a small
provincial town and run amok, then you are wrong."
Inspector Greg Sparrow of the Rotorua police is leading the operation.
He wouldn't reveal how many police were involved, saying only that it
would be a "large contingent".
"Our action will be dictated by their behaviour. I am hopeful they will
abide by the rules and the law."
Mr Sparrow said the safety aspect was made worse by the fact it was
Queen's Birthday Weekend and the roads in and out of Rotorua would be
busy with holidaymakers.
Several Murupara people spoken to by the Daily Post said they were
worried about potential trouble from the gang members but few wanted to
be quoted.
Murupara Holiday Park manager John Edmonds said the noise from the
motorcycles was intimidating.
"You get 40 bikes and it makes a hell of a noise. You can hear them
coming a mile away. They sound like a squadron of bombers coming."
However, Mr Edmonds said although the gang members weren't staying this
weekend he had had them stay before and they weren't any trouble.
"Nothing was stolen. Not even a pillow."
Meanwhile, Mr Hunt said Saturday's event would finish with a social at
Rangitahi Marae.
It was to feature The Killer Beez leader and hip hop performer Joshua
Masters as the headline act but he was arrested at the start of the
month on suspicion of running a $500,000 methamphetamine drug ring that
saw 20 other gang members arrested.
THE GANGS * The Killer Beez began five years ago as a feeder gang to the
Tribesmen and are the fastest growing gang in New Zealand
* Tribesmen and The Killer Beez wear yellow and black
* The Killer Beez started in South Auckland but now have members in
Northland, Auckland, Murupara and Kaingaroa
* The leader of the Killer Beez is hip-hop artist and kickboxer Josh
Masters, who is in jail for allegedly running a drug ring with 20 other
members