Gypsy Wright:Backing for Black Power member from Mongrel Mob

Gypsy Wright

MY NAME is Gypsy Wright, a life time member of the Mongrel Mob.

When passing through Marton 40 years ago I liked the people so I stayed. I had 25 cents in my pocket.

It took me a while to get a job; when I did I gave 100 per cent. It wasn't long after I was promoted. I ran the water and sewer reticulation team for 10 years until an injury forced me to cease that job.

I have since bought two houses (legally) as a gang member, still patched. I joined the Kotahitanga Youth Club in 1978.

A lot of young males wanted to join the Mongrel Mob. By joining the youth club I was able to explain to them that is not a road you want to go down. Not one of them joined the Mongrel Mob.

Later I got on the Kotahitanga Hall Komiti as secretary, then chairperson, then finally as a trustee. I sourced thousands of dollars to do up the hall. I also became a delegate to the Aotea District Maori Council, and over the last 40 years many other committees while being a Mongrel Mobster.

Because of the injury I voluntarily ran a Steps programme for youth who dropped out of school, which I injected a lot of my own money into.

I then proceeded to work for the Probation Service, voluntarily taking youth at risk and young offenders.

This work I did for seven years and then the Justice system gave me $150 for that seven years' voluntary work.The moral of the story is that I decided to make Marton my home, a safe place to bring by family up - you then become part of the community. So it is only fair you give back to the community even though you are gang member or whoever.

I ceased wearing my patch in the late 80s as I knew who I was so I didn't need to wear it.
Now I bet Mr Nui's agenda and motives are much the same as mine.

Judith Collins is the Minister of Corrections and she is locking up crims with no intention for them to be rehabilitated.

She has a prejudice towards law breakers and gang members. She wants to see them fail.
Ms Collins can see the positive mahi Mr Nui is accomplishing and she hates it. She was naughty in Parliament and stood down. And along comes a gang member who's been working within the Justice system for five years and hasn't tripped up. 'How dare he show me up. I'll get that gang member stood down'. How pathetic.

I have been asked by government departments to become more involved, like Mr Nui, but at the end of the day the Judith Collins' and the haters prevented me from doing so.
I have just recently finished a three-year term on the Rangitikei District Community Council where I had some positive input and results, even though I'm a life Mongrel Mob member. Mr Nui and myself will always have that connection to the gang.

I am 61 and my whole life has been spent as a Mongrel Mobster; I am the Mongrel Mob and part of the community I live in and give back to - more so than a lot of the haters who don't get involved and just shoot their mouths off.

Mr Nui has bigger problems going into prison and trying to inject some positive mana.
He's also got to watch his back from the Ms Collins' and the haters. If he didn't have to watch his back that energy could be put towards the task at hand - helping others. Let's see you idiots go into prison and see how much mana and respect you will get, let alone positive results.

I say kia ora Mr Nui. Carry on with your good work. You are damned if you do and damned if you don't.

The Mongrel Mob and Black Power are not the best of friends - I'm giving Mr Nui a tautoko on the basis of what he's doing as an individual and as a person, not because he's a Black Power member or affiliate.

Judith Collins - stop being so righteous and judgmental. Commend the man for what he's doing and not for what he has been.