A lifelong Black Power member and community advocate is calling for calm between sparring groups in the wake of a fatal gang shooting.
One person has died in hospital a week on from a gang-related fight in the Christchurch suburb of Northcote, police say.
While Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves said those involved were associated with two separate gangs, an investigation had indicated it was “an isolated incident between specific individuals” and not gang-motivated.
Three men aged 19, 31 and 40 have been charged with aggravated wounding and aggravated robbery, with further charges being considered since the death.
Despite the shooting, lifelong Black Power member Denis O’Reilly told Ryan Bridge TODAY that New Zealand was in “a period of grace” regarding criminal gang activity, “and we should take advantage of that”.
“There was a recent tragedy in Christchurch where two groups were involved. The rallying call went out, as in the old days ... to back each other up,“ O’Reilly said.
“And I think the general response has been, look, if you fellows want to go and play on that side of the paddock, so be it. Take the consequences.
“The rest of us are wanting to get on with building strong families, being part of our communities, having a job, paying our taxes, and being good mums and dads.”
O’Reilly has been part of Black Power for almost 55 years, initially as an active member in 1972 before adopting the role of a kaumātua and advocate when taking off his patch in 2011.
With figures now indicating that gang members narrowly outnumber police officers nationwide, O’Reilly said there needed to be “a paradigm shift” in New Zealand’s understanding of gangs and the underlying causes that pushed individuals to join them.
He said the Government’s patch ban had been “useful” in reducing aggravations between gang members, as well as with the public.
“It’s also given a number of people a chance to ask themselves why they’re wearing a patch and what that’s all about.
“Because they’re not having to wear a patch and not having to congregate in that way, many are asking themselves, ‘Look, what am I really on about? Is this my whānau or whatever?’”
Gang recruits typically come from backgrounds acutely affected by social inequality, intergenerational trauma and systemic marginalisation, according to research from the University of Auckland.
Gangs therefore attract vulnerable individuals by offering a sense of social belonging, protection and family structure.
O’Reilly said work continued on steering gang-affiliated youngsters towards the positive social aspects of their communities and keeping them out of crime, but the national conversation needed to shift towards transnational organised crime groups, who were becoming increasingly intertwined with local gangs.
“Customs and Police have really upped their game under Casey Costello’s leadership ... And you’re seeing that by seizures and all that sort of stuff. And of course, that will follow its way through the distribution networks on land.
“In the meantime, what are we doing to support those young ones who are not fitting into school, and who are the target for those transnational groups who will promise them the earth in terms of bling and everything, but ... not explain to them that the only way they’ll get to enjoy it is from six feet under.”
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