Living within the realm of gang culture

They've been here for 50 years.
In some families, they're part of the "social fabric".
But Hastings leaders - including gang leaders - want local young people to focus on a future outside of gangs.
A project to prevent youth drifting into gang life, and encourage them into education and jobs, is being developed by Hastings District Council.
It came out of research into local gangs, looking at the link between gangs and crime, and how young people graduate to patched members.
Former lawyer Shona Jones and EIT research professor Kay Morris Matthews carried out the work last year.
Ms Jones, who is affiliated to Ngati Kahungunu and has experience working in youth court in Porirua, spoke to senior gang members, youth gangs members and others in the community.
Gangs are a relatively small part of the Hastings population - some 200 members across all adult gangs.
But in some families, gang life was part of the "social fabric", she said.
"That's why it's important that there are other behaviours that are normalised at that community level so they can see there are other options," she said.
Youth gangs, which could "emerge and dissolve" quickly, were often made up of kids who lived in the same neighbourhood.
"In some cases, they're just kids getting together because they live in the same block, and they give themselves a name and a tag," Ms Jones said.
Not all committed serious crime, and only a few would graduate to adult gangs.
"In fact some of the feedback was that the senior gangs were a little bit choosey about who they wanted. If somebody rocked up and said I want to be in your gang, that wasn't enough to do it."
Gang members themselves often wanted their kids to take a different path in life, Ms Jones said.
"We've got local examples of young people who've done extremely well in their chosen fields and they come from gang families. I wouldn't say that all gang members have that view, but it's a reasonably strong view."
Ms Jones said a key finding was that boys needed to be reached at a young age and needed interaction with strong positive male role models.
"The over-riding feedback was that by the time boys made their way towards adult gangs, it was too late," she said.
Reaching kids at an early age was backed by Hastings Mongrel Mob president Rex Timu.
Young people needed good role models, he said.
"It's really important because if no one gets to these kids they're going to be hanging around the streets and getting in trouble and drinking alcohol and going to jail," he said.
Youth between about 15 and 18 were at a turning point, he said, - "the ones who decide whether they're going to go left or go right".
"The ones who go left are the ones who end up on my back doorstep. They're turning left because they see us as role models for themselves, not so much in the criminal side of things, but as someone to look up to."
While his youngest member is just 21, Mr Timu said he has turned young people away.
"They think they want to join the Mob because we do this and we do that. But it's not like that anymore. It used to be."
Youth gangs that operated outside the discipline and structure of established gangs were cause for concern.
"I've sat down and talked to them and said to them - different groups, different youth gangs - all the trouble you guys are doing out there, it's all coming back on my side because people think you're Mongrel Mob but you're not," Mr Timu said.
Contrary to public perception, gang members were not bad parents, and wanted the best for their kids, he said.
"I've spoken to my kids, the older ones, and I've said to them over the years, 'the road that I've taken is my own, you have your own path to follow'."
Hastings district councillor Henare O'Keefe agreed - gang parents want a good future for their kids. "Sure, there are some shortcomings with the gang and its activities. But I know several gang members whose children have gone into university, gang members whose children have represented New Zealand at the highest level," he said.
The council's project targeting youth was "a step in the right direction," but it needed to focus on the whole whanau.
"Fix up the home, you fix up the community," he said.
The Mongrel Mob had been in Hastings for 50 years - "so you're looking at third generation now, and you don't wipe that out overnight".
Council strategy and development group manager Dennis Morgan said the research was prompted by community concern about gangs.
It was funded by the Ministry of Justice, which has also provided money for a co-ordinator to roll out the project.
The scheme includes two dozen small-scale, community-based programmes working with children, youth, and their families.
"It's about realising youth potential and giving them opportunities outside of just gangs," Mr Morgan said.
"Young people do get involved in gangs, there's no denying it, and it's about trying to take a long-term approach at addressing some of the issues around that."
The projects will be conducted by groups already working in the community, which in some instances have similar work under way.
The council hasn't committed funding - that will need to come from other providers, such as trusts and government agencies.
The project will be considered by the council for formal approval in the new year.