Warning over youth gang fights

A school principal says Rotorua is exhibiting worrying signs of a potentially deadly youth gang culture.

John Paul College principal Patrick Walsh and police are concerned about an increase in the number of youth gang fights. Police are called to about three fights a week.

The fighting has coincided with Rotorua Lakes High School handing a small cache of home-made weapons over to police. The weapons have been confiscated off students over the past three years.

Mr Walsh said the increase in Eastside and Westside gang graffiti at schools and the fighting was indicative of a growing youth gang problem.

"For me it's deja vu because I came from being a deputy principal at De La Salle College in Mangere where we used to have a lot of youth gangs. It's something that needs to be nipped in the bud quickly."

John Paul College students had recently been victims of attacks involving gangs from other schools, prompting safety advice.

"We told them to stick to main roads, walk in at least twos or threes, if they are approached by youth gangs get to a shop as quickly as possibly and, if possible, have cellphones with them."

Students at Mr Walsh's former school carried chisels and hammers in their bags as weapons.

He said Rotorua parents needed to take youth gangs more seriously. "Not a great deal was done about it in South Auckland and before we knew it we had three or four murders. I'd hate to see that happen here."

Parents also needed to know where their children were at night. "We have police dropping 11-year-olds home at 10 and 11 at night. That's hugely irresponsible."

Meanwhile, Rotorua Lakes High School principal John Ellis said the weapons handed to police this week had been collected over the past three years.

Students were not aware of the ramifications of what they were making. "Sometimes it's kids with idle hands and they are making something [that] unbeknown to them looks like a weapon," Mr Ellis said.

Police are concerned similar weapons may end up being used in the fighting which has escalated recently.

Among the Lakes High students' weapons were wooden batons with 10 nails sticking out the end, a home-made whip consisting of a rope with a piece of wood attached, a knife made from a sharp piece of steel with red insulation tape wrapped around the end, an imitation hand gun and pocket knives.

Sergeant John Cassidy said most of the fights involved youth gangs. He said the students, including girls, spread the word about fights mainly via text messages and gathered away from schools shortly after 3pm.

"By the time the police get there, they have usually run away," Mr Cassidy said.

Although the weapons were rarely used and most of the "rumbles" were verbal, they were concerning police.

"A lot of these weapons are just for show but they have the potential to use them. We are treating them seriously, not only for their safety, but for the rest of the public ... It's scary stuff."