Black Power (New Zealand gang)

Black Power
Founded 1970
Founding location Wellington
Years active 1970-present
Territory Nationwide, Australia
Ethnicity Mixed, predominantly Māori and Polynesian
Criminal activities Drug dealing, assault, murder
Rivals Mongrel Mob, Bloods, Storm Troopers[1][2]

Black Power is a prominent gang in New Zealand. Members are predominantly Māori and Polynesian.

It was formed as the "Black Bulls" by Rei Harris and Māori youth in Wellington about 1970,[3][4] in response to the rival Mongrel Mob gang and white power associated gangs. The gang then spread to other major centres and rural towns in New Zealand.

Founder Rei Harris was very politically aware, and during the early 1980s the gang gained some credibility; with pakeha social activist Denis O'Reilly joining, former judge Bill Maung acting as their political advisor[5] and Prime Minister Rob Muldoon meeting with them and helping them to find accommodation and form work trusts.[6][3][7][8]

The gang is now heavily involved in organised crime, such as drug manufacturing and dealing.[9][10] While the gang has distanced itself from violent acts of some of its members, for example, a child abuse case, police have in return accused the gang members of using violence as a 'learned behaviour from involvement in the gang'.[11]

There were 697 members in prison in April 2013.[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/gangs/page-4
  2. ↑ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=10929831
  3. 1 2 Egarr, Tristan (14 July 2008). "Gang Land". Salient. www.salient.org.nz. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
  4. ↑ Hubbard, Anthony (6 September 2009). "What the gang patch means". Sunday Star Times. Archived from the original on 5 December 2010.
  5. ↑ "Ideas for 14 August 2011", Radio NZ
  6. ↑ "Thea Muldoon with Black Power members", Te Ara
  7. ↑ "A gangster's life", 11/04/2010, Tim Hume, Sunday Star Times
  8. ↑ His Way: a Biography of Robert Muldoon, page 23, Barry Gustafson, (2000)
  9. ↑ Porn movie plus tinny for $35 - New Zealand Herald, Saturday 05 August 2006
  10. ↑ "Tribal Trouble". Time. 5 July 2007.
  11. ↑ Rowan, Juliet (12 November 2005). "Gang out to protect its image". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  12. ↑ Johnston, Kirsty (9 June 2013). "LA-style gangs fuel problems in NZ prisons". Stuff. Fairfax NZ News. Retrieved 9 June 2013.

External links

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