Mother launches ‘Eru’s Law’ petition after son’s gang shooting death

Eru Oakes (inset) is taken to the urupa surrounded by his four brothers and whānau.

Sonya Oakes is a mother of five whose life was shattered when her son Eru was killed in a gang shooting four weeks ago.

Eru died in Tauranga Hospital having been found with a gunshot wound at his Te Puke home. He was 29 and a partner and father of two. He also leaves behind a twin brother, Wharehuia.

While navigating unimaginable grief and supporting her four surviving sons through theirs, Sonya (49) has launched a petition she calls “Eru’s Law” calling for longer sentences for violent crimes, and removing or limiting sentence discounts.

She has also created a Justice for Eru Facebook page to connect New Zealanders affected by violent crime, that has already attracted 5000 followers.

She told the Herald she has been active in her grief because she wants her son’s legacy to be a safer Aotearoa.

Eru Oakes was killed on October 25, 2025. A petition calling for change has been labelled Eru's Law.

“The day my life changed forever”

Sonya’s life changed forever on 25 October, 2025.

“My son Eru was taken from us in a violent incident that no mother should ever have to face” she said.

“He passed away the next day - it was from that moment, my world shattered” Sonya told the Herald.

Eru Oakes and his four brothers. He died last month. His mum has started a petition labelled Eru's Law.

“My four other sons were traumatised by what they saw and what they endured that day. As their mother, I had to somehow hold their grief as well as my own.”

“My focus is protecting my sons, honouring Eru,29, and surviving this heartbreak as a family.

Three men - Joseph Yorke, Kanan Clarke and Te Waiari Kapereira Mana Watson - were charged with Eru’s murder and appeared in the Tauranga High Court a fortnight ago, entering not guilty pleas.

Meanwhile the family is left to come to grips with its pain.

“It exists to honour my son”

The Facebook page is somewhere Sonya can place her pain, she told the Herald. “I needed somewhere to speak for my boy. Somewhere my son’s name can be held safely and respectfully,” she said.

“It exists to honour my son, support my four surviving boys through their trauma, and connect with families who understand this grief.

Tristan Eru Oakes, 29, (left) from Te Puke and his twin brother Wharehuia. Photo / Sonya Oakes.

Sonya said once she started talking and writing about her experiences and grief, more people, started reaching out. “I realised my story wasn’t isolated,” she said.

“Too many offenders walk away with sentences that don’t reflect the harm caused. My grief became my drive. My pain became my determination.

“My sons became my reasons to keep going. I have five boys, one now in the sky, four who still need a future that is safer than what took their brother.”

Eru's hunting dogs and whānau are loaded onto his truck as they make their way to the urupa.

“One message that struck me deeply came from a whānau who also lost a loved one to violence. They shared: ‘Everything you are moving with Eru’s Law is long overdue. With our whānau, we stand with you in changing this system for the better’.

“Messages like this remind me this kaupapa is bigger than my whānau. This is not just my son’s story, it’s a story of every family failed by the gaps in our justice system.”

“I do this for every parent who has buried a child - for every victim whose story got lost in the system.

Mum Sonya Oakes is determined to seek real justice and accountability for her son Eru's death.

“My son’s life mattered. His legacy will be change and I will keep going until the justice system reflects the value of the lives taken.”

More than 3000 have signed the petition, which is available on Parliament’s website.

Joseph Los’e is the Kaupapa Māori Editor and joined NZME in 2022. Los’e was chief reporter, news director at the Sunday News covering crime, justice and sport. He was also editor of the NZ Truth and before joining NZME worked for urban Māori organisation Whānau Waipareira.