The mayor of the first New Zealand town to outlaw gang patches is commending the ban to violence-hit Wairoa. Wanganui mayor Annette Main says getting rid of the patches made her town less intimidating. "It's one of the steps they should take," Ms Main said. "We suffered from a perception that Wanganui hadmore gangs. Now people here feel a lot safer. It's taken away the obvious signs of a gang culture. "A lot of people join gangs to feel like they belong. If they're not identifiable there is less of a point to belonging." However, the law will do more to hide gang problems than solve them, she says. Some of her town's gang members have simply moved to other places where they can wear patches. "Our police say there are less gang members around. But it hasn't got rid of the problem. "They're in other areas where people see their patches. But for Wanganui people, they don't have to see them." Wairoa mayor Les Probert, local MP Chris Tremain and community leaders are looking at banning gang patches in the central North Island town. Mr Tremain says it is one of a series of changes aimed at having "zero tolerance" toward gangs in Wairoa. Generations of family-based gang affiliations in the town have created a tacit acceptance of their culture, he says. He will be talking to fellow Government MPs about strengthening police powers to combat gangs, including the ability to search for offensive weapons and prosecute for unlawful assembly. Mayor Les Probert has committed to working with local kaumatua, rangatira and other leaders to create a wider community solution. Ms Main is offering to share her experience with the town's leaders. "I'm happy to talk to them as someone who's been there before." Wairoa's renewed anti-gang efforts were sparked by two gang-related shootings in late October The latest saw a 48-year-old Mongrel Mob member shot in the back and side while pumping gas at a service station on the town's main road. It appeared to be retaliation for the shooting of a Black Power member outside the Mongrel Mob headquarters on October 25. Police are yet to make an arrest in either case.
