An Angel at their table: gang leader clashes with councillors

There were fiery scenes in the council chamber yesterday afternoon as a Wanganui District Council subcommittee heard submissions on the proposed gang patch bylaw.

The Wanganui District Council Prohibition of Gang Insignia bylaw will come into force on September 1, after the subcommittee, comprising mayor Michael Laws and councillors Randhir Dahya and Rana Waitai, unanimously agreed to pass it.

The bylaw will get its final stamp of approval at a full council meeting on August 31.

Eight submitters, including members of the Hells Angels, were scheduled to speak to their submissions yesterday, but a last-minute change of time meant only three submitters turned up to the meeting.

All three submitters opposed the bylaw which led to heated words between Mr Laws and the submitters.

Cr Rob Vinsen came in for particularly harsh treatment from the subcommittee.

Mr Vinsen, who has consistently opposed banning gang patches, was taken to task by Mr Laws and Mr Waitai for his opinion that passing the bylaw would bring negative publicity to Wanganui.

"Look at these guys," Mr Vinsen said, indicating the large media presence. "They wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for this bylaw."

Mr Laws reminded Mr Vinsen of the results of Referendum 07, in which the majority of people who voted wanted gang patches banned.

"Are you saying the will of the Wanganui people should be ignored?

"Are you saying the people of Wanganui are ignorant or that they made the wrong decision?"

Mr Laws told Mr Vinsen he "seemed ignorant" after quizzing him on various aspects of the legislation which allowed the bylaw to proceed.

Mr Vinsen said he had been operating his business in the CBD for 37 years and had seen no incidents of gang violence on the main streets.

"Have you been living on the moon?" Mr Laws asked him. "I've been here for five years and I've seen two [incidents]. So what does that say? Perhaps you're not being observant."

After the meeting Mr Vinsen described the submissions hearing as "an abuse of the process".

"It was all about Mayor Laws and his performance in front of the media, not about the right of the submitters to present their submissions without verbal harassment or pre-determination."

The clash between Mr Laws and Hells Angels Wanganui president Wayne Tweeddale reached almost farcical proportions, with Mr Tweeddale insisting he read a statement to the subcommittee and Mr Laws insisting Mr Tweeddale answer questions first.

The stand-off continued for some minutes before Mr Tweeddale was able to read his statement, part of which described the Hells Angels being "continually frustrated" by the council.

"We couldn't even get a simple road closure for an event that has always involved a wide range of people. These decisions should be based on their merits not on animosity towards us."

Mr Tweeddale said the other Hells Angels submitters were so disgusted at the abrupt change to their hearing times that they had decided to boycott the meeting altogether.

"It was just the last straw for some of them."

Mr Tweeddale said the "make-up of this subcommittee gives us no confidence we will get a fair hearing".

When Mr Laws began questioning Mr Tweeddale, Mr Tweeddale thanked the subcommittee for listening to him and walked out of the chamber.

Steven Rollo, the lawyer for Hells Angels, argued for some time with Mr Laws on several points, including whether the council had provided all relevant information to submitters and whether the council had any factual basis on which to pass the bylaw.

"You are passing this bylaw on the basis of the moral character of [Hells Angels], and I want to see evidence that taking away their patches will reduce crime."

"You're too late," Mr Laws said. "It was Parliament that passed the legislation – they decided the Hells Angels were a gang, not us."

Mr Rollo said this was the first opportunity the Hells Angels had had to speak their mind to the council and he hoped they would get another opportunity at a later date, before the full council.


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Wanganui mayor Michael Laws takes a submitter to task.
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The main entrance to the council building gives the message loud and clear.
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Hells Angels' lawyer Steven Rollo answers questions from the subcommittee.
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Councillor Rob Vinsen makes his point at the hearing.
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