Mongrel Mob lands big contract

Pulling off a lucrative multi-million dollar deal is changing the Kawerau chapter of the Mongrel Mob's image for the better.

Te Hokinga Mai Ki Kawerau Trust, led by Kawerau Mongrel Mob chapter president Des Ngaheu, won a contract from Mighty River Power for scaffolding and rigging on a $270 million geothermal power station being built near the eastern Bay of Plenty town.

Once completed, the plant is expected to meet about 33 per cent of the region's residential and industrial power demands. Half the scaffolding crew of 30 are patched Mob members.

Mr Ngaheu said the group was changing its image in the town.

In the past members had worked with the council to clean up a reserve and volunteered their services for a number of other community projects. Now many of its members are working on the Mighty River Power project.

"It's opened up a lot of eyes in Kawerau. People are seeing us differently now in more of a positive way," he said.

With the gang members in paid employment things were improving for them and their families.

"They are really proud. When you look at it these guys were the ones who people thought were unemployable.

"Their children are wearing the proper shoes to school and their lives are better now," Mr Ngaheu said.

Not only is the group impressing whanau - street kids are looking up to them.

"We are their role models and we have to be good, positive role models for them. They come up to me and call me 'koro' [sir or old man].

"They want to work with us. They can see a better life for them too," he said.

Crews work 9-hour days, 6 days a week.

"By the end of the day all they want to do is go home, have a meal and a bath and hit the sack. On Sunday all they want to do is recharge their batteries for work on Monday."

The Mighty River project is only the beginning for this scaffolding gang.

"We are breaking the mould. It's been incredible."

Kawerau mayor Malcolm Campbell said the council had worked closely with the group on projects, including cleaning up the Monika Lanham Reserve.

"Council and Environment Bay of Plenty looked at ways of engaging the gang to make a difference in Kawerau. It's giving people a different picture of them. They did it voluntarily to get their names out there and they have put something back into the community."

Ignoring gangs was not the way to deal with them, Mr Campbell said.

"It's no good working against them. They aren't going to go away. Many of theses guys are tangata whenua [people of land] around here. Making them feel part of the community is one way of breaking down barriers."

Crime in areas where the gangs had worked had reduced, Mr Campbell said.

Mighty River Power general manager of generation John Foote said he was impressed with the group's work.

"This ... contractor has just won an award for health and safety, you wouldn't win a safety award unless you were doing a good job."