New Zealand Bans Gang Patches; Gang Membership at Historic High
In Aotearoa New Zealand, gang patches and other insignia are now banned in public. The ban targets 38 gangs, including the Mongrel Mob, which has operated multiple chapters in Hawke's Bay for over 50 years. As of February, gang membership has reached historic highs, with more gang members than police officers in the country.
Government Response
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stated, "To the gangs, I say this, you are no longer above the law," after the patch ban came into force. The government's law-and-order approach includes new police powers to break up gang gatherings, strengthened non-consorting laws, and prison expansion.
"To the gangs, I say this, you are no longer above the law." — Prime Minister Christopher Luxon
Alternative Approach: Pastor Lucky Te Koha
Former gang member turned Christian pastor Lucky Te Koha argues the crackdown does not address root causes. He runs bi-monthly sessions for gang members and their partners in Hawke's Bay, focusing on issues like addiction, shame, parenting, and relationships. Te Koha says his lived experience gives him access to communities most church leaders cannot reach.
Historical Context
Professor Tracey McIntosh from the University of Auckland links New Zealand's gang history to the treatment of Māori youth in state care. She says practices in boys' homes and group homes were prototypes for gang behavior. The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (2024 report) estimated up to 256,000 people were abused or neglected in state and faith-based care between 1950 and 2019. In November 2024, the government formally apologized to survivors.
Personal Experiences
Te Koha spent time in foster care and at Cherry Farm psychiatric institution, where he says he was sexually abused. Judas, a participant in Te Koha's program, said his mother was in state care and his father was in the Mongrel Mob. He quit methamphetamine in 2019 and now works as a facilitator in a youth program for Māori teenagers.
Prison Expansion
Hawke's Bay Regional Prison, currently housing almost 200 Mongrel Mob inmates, is expanding. The government is adding 316 beds to the facility.