Conditions for gang visit to Murupara

Murupara's Maori community is warmly welcoming hundreds of gang members to the town this weekend - but there are conditions.

Ngati Manawa leader Pem Bird said the gang members, who as reported in yesterday's Daily Post are heading to Murupara tonight to take part in tomorrow's inaugural Tribesmen Poker Run event, have assured the town they will respect the people and the area.

Mr Bird, who is also the Te Kura Kaupapa Motuhake o Tawhiuau principal, said the community, police, Whakatane District Council and the gang had worked together in the lead-up to the event to ensure it ran smoothly. "They come into our area with our sanction. They have given us their word they will respect our tikanga and mana (customs)."

More than 150 Tribesmen and Killer Beez gang members as well as their supporters are coming to Murupara from Auckland, Northland and Wellington. The poker run will see the gang members travel in their motorcycles or in cars to five secret locations in the Murupara area where they will be dealt cards, the winner being the person with the best poker hand at the end. They will receive a cash prize, trophy and Ngati Manawa taonga.

Mr Bird said the gang members would be welcomed on to Rangitahi Marae tonight with a powhiri like any other visitors to the marae.

This would be followed by a "wananga" and church service in the meeting house. He said there would also be a proper church service and farewell at the marae on Sunday.

Mr Bird said the organiser of the event and Tribesmen leader Peter Hunt had senior genealogy within Ngati Manawa.

"They made an approach in the proper way to our people to see if they could use our marae. Among the Tribesmen there are people who have connections with Ngati Manawa. They are coming here under our kawa and tikanga."

Mr Bird said the gang, council, police and community leaders had "sat around a table kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face)" and had drawn up an agreement. The agreement said all parties must notify or warn each other if there is:

* behaviour that may cause concern

* potential risk

* complaints

* change of plan

Whakatane District Councillor Jacob Te Kurapa, of Murupara, said he had helped the gang get the necessary consents, such as a liquor licence for the marae, on the condition members agreed to obey the rules.

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