Board member supports gang ride

The Headhunters Motorcycle Club's annual Outlaw Run is expected to gather about 150 motorcycles, custom cars and hot rods for the event in the town tomorrow. Photo / NZME.

A local government representative for Wellsford has acknowledged the Headhunters gang is integrated in the community but says they are nothing to be afraid of.

Earlier this week a senior Wellsford police officer told the Northern Advocate businesses sponsoring the gang's annual fundraiser this weekend were supporting organised crime.

But James Colville, Wellsford board member of the Rodney Local Board of the Auckland Council, said the Headhunters was integrated in the Wellsford community.

"Put it this way they don't cause any trouble," Mr Colville said. "Most of them would probably be on the pension."

The Headhunters Motorcycle Club's annual Outlaw Run is expected to gather about 150 motorcycles, custom cars and hot rods for the event in the town tomorrow.

A poster advertising the event, designed in the style of a wanted poster, listed 44 groups or businesses as sponsors, with about half of these coming from Wellsford.

It was no surprise so many businesses had sponsored the event because they were part of Wellsford, Mr Colville said.

"I haven't had any need to associate with them (recently) but when I did they're always pleasant," he said. The safest place in Wellsford was likely at the gang's headquarters, Mr Colville said.

While Wellsford Sergeant Geoff Medland acknowledged some may see the gang through different eyes, the underlying fact was that all motorcycle gangs were part of organised crime, he said.

An organiser of the run, who declined to be named, said it would be family-friendly with the proceeds going towards a local family in need. Depending on weather the run, now in its seventh year, was expected to make its way from Wellsford to the Kai Iwi Lakes, north of Dargaville. Last year there was a police escort for at least part of the run and the same was expected this year.

Clive Jones, owner of Outdoor and Marine Wellsford, said he had no reservations supporting the run because the group did not cause any trouble.