A former female gang member who featured on a 60 Minutes television documentary about Flaxmere's girl gangs wants to meet Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule to discuss comments he made about it. Cheriek Kara, a mother of two who is working towards her master's degree in Maori and management, featured as areformed teen gang member on the current affairs show alongside present gang members trying to change their lifestyles. She slammed comments made by Mr Yule yesterday about the story being a "beat up" that showed Flaxmere in a negative light. "Overall, I believe the documentary was positive," Miss Kara said. "Yes, there were some rough and raw girls, but the documentary showed their development so far. "It may not seem like much of a development to the people who have fingers in their ears and have a 'normal life', but they have come a long way." Miss Kara said the documentary showed that there were about 200 girls involved with the local "cliques" or gangs. This morning she said "every single one of them want to change" and they just needed the resources to do so. And although there were people within the community willing to help, funding was not easy to come by. Miss Kara said a meeting between her, local dignitaries who have an insight into the gang culture, and some of the girls involved in gangs, could provide some enlightenment. Mr Yule said this morning he would write to 60 Minutes outlining concerns that the situation in Flaxmere was portrayed incorrectly. Miss Kara has received 22 letters of support since the screening. Writers included Maori Affairs minister Pita Sharples and Hastings Girls' High School. Another, from Dannevirke High School, requested a visit from 21-year-old PT, who featured in the story as a gang member hoping to become a youth worker.
