NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Patch snatch the root of animosity between gangs, Rotorua court hears

By Jill Nicholas
Rotorua Daily Post·
9 Jul, 2018 04:30 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Rotorua courthouse. Photo/File

Rotorua courthouse. Photo/File

Hostilities that erupted between Black Power and Mongrel Mob gang members in Whakatāne were sparked by a patch being taken from a member of one of Black Power's affiliate chapters.

The jury trying five Black Power members in the High Court at Rotorua on charges stemming from the January 17, 2017 showdown between the rival factions was reminded of this by Crown prosecutor Richard Jenson while summing up the trial today.

He traced the animosity between the gangs back to the Friday the 13th patch snatch which occurred when Tahu Kingi's body was taken to a Whakatāne funeral home.

Kingi was a senior Kawerau Mongrel Mob member and bringing him to Whakatāne was seen as crossing the barrier into Black Power territory, something that caused animosity on both sides.

The events the jury was dealing with related to Kingi's subsequent funeral procession as it wound towards Whakatāne's crematorium, with at least 150 Mongrel Mob members and associates from across the country in convoy behind the vehicle carrying his body.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

On trial are Benjamin Biddle, Whitu Taipete, Codie Taitapanui, Te Reneti Tarau and Taumata Tawhai.

A sixth defendant, Stalone Harawera, was discharged after Justice Graham Lang ruled there was insufficient evidence to sustain the charges against him.

Other charges the defendants faced were rioting, participating in an organised criminal group, using a firearm against law enforcement officers and recklessly discharging firearms.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Charges of unlawful possession of a firearm against Biddle, Taipete and Tawhai had also been dismissed but remained against Taitapanui and Tarau.

Taking the jury through the charges relating to each defendant video footage shot by bystanders and a police officer was replayed to remind the five men and seven women of the roles each defendant was accused of playing.

Jenson told them there could be no doubt from the footage Taipete was the shooter, firing shots at the Mongrel Mob cortege halted at the intersection of Arawa and Valley Rds.

This followed missiles being thrown at advancing Mongrel Mobsters from an Arawa Rd service lane.

Discover more

New Zealand

Anonymous witnesses testify at gang trial

28 Jun 02:36 AM
New Zealand

Black Power gang trial enters second week

02 Jul 02:35 AM
New Zealand

Jury released for the day in gang trial

03 Jul 03:14 AM
New Zealand|crime

Closing arguments begin in Black Power trial

08 Jul 10:41 PM

He said Tawhai had given Taipete active support. "He was being provocative, not fluffing up his feathers in a boys-will-be-boys way, he was giving gang signals of encouragement," the prosecutor claimed.

He reiterated evidence that it was Tawhai who had advanced on a man known only as Witness B angrily demanding he stop filming the confrontation and delete footage already shot.

Referring to Biddle, he said his police interview had been cagey, far from full and frank.

"He knows how these confrontations with the Mongrel Mob go and the risk of serious injury from them . . . he taunted the procession calling them pussies, you may well consider he was one of the older ones directing the younger ones what to do," he suggested.

Summing up the actions of the remaining defendants, he said it defied belief they knew nothing about the firearms being carried, accusing them of aiding and encouraged them to be fired.

They had taunted their rivals and given self-serving versions of event in police interviews.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

However, he allowed that Taitapanui had given a more frank interview acknowledging he knew he was walking into an armed confrontation and was standing next to Taipere when the shots were fired.

Encapsulating the charges, Jenson contended all defendants took part in the riot and in the organised criminal group charges because they shared the common objective to wound the Mongrel Mob and that Taitapanui and Tarua were guilty of unlawfully possessing firearms.

On the count of shooting at police he argued each man knew officers were present.

On the fifth count it was clear firearms had been used without thought for the safety of others in the vicinity, watching members of the public included.

"At the end of the day you must consider all the evidence, you might consider from the footage you have seen each is guilty of all the charges they face," Jenson urged.

Defence lawyers are to argue on their clients' behalf tomorrow.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

‘Rare opportunity’: Wellington’s floating boat cafe up for sale

16 Jun 06:01 AM
New Zealand

'I’m gonna see you burn at the stake': Paramedic bit partner on the nose, then strangled her

16 Jun 06:00 AM
New Zealand

'Loveable rascal': Family, school mourns 6yo boy lost in boat tragedy

16 Jun 05:18 AM

The woman behind NZ’s first PAK’nSAVE

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Waihī house fire: Probe into cause of man's death

Waihī house fire: Probe into cause of man's death

16 Jun 06:09 AM

What started a fatal house blaze in Waihī is still being investigated.

‘Rare opportunity’: Wellington’s floating boat cafe up for sale

‘Rare opportunity’: Wellington’s floating boat cafe up for sale

16 Jun 06:01 AM
'I’m gonna see you burn at the stake': Paramedic bit partner on the nose, then strangled her

'I’m gonna see you burn at the stake': Paramedic bit partner on the nose, then strangled her

16 Jun 06:00 AM
'Loveable rascal': Family, school mourns 6yo boy lost in boat tragedy

'Loveable rascal': Family, school mourns 6yo boy lost in boat tragedy

16 Jun 05:18 AM
How one volunteer makes people feel seen
sponsored

How one volunteer makes people feel seen

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP