Gangs of new zealand?

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Meziena

We have a lot of people who think they are in gangs, not a lot of the real deal though. I guess they want to be like those American gangtas you see on TV.

Actually I used to live close to the Mongrel Mob's headquarters. Sometimes I'd pass one of them on the street and we'd say hi to each other, nice guys really but not extremely polite. They usually fight other gangs when high or drunk, never random people.

And for the record I have never seen a gun in NZ, even on a police officer. We don't need them.

Sultan Shalfat the Adventurer

New Zealand is one of the safest places on earth (except for car accidents).

that's why when someone gets shot, it is in the news for weeks !!

Not sure where did you get the idea that there are so many ganges here. There are few known ones, but nothing like in other countries, they are quite tamed in comparison.

General rule is to apply common sense while travelling and don't take unnecessary risk.

Chickenhead

It is very safe. You are much less likely to get shot in NZ than the US. If you do get shot you can consider yourself pretty unlucky, but I guess that is everywhere.

Driver T

G'day Doug,
There are very few gangs and gang members in New Zealand. News items concerning gangs are so rare that when an event happens, the newspapers and other news media latch on to it and give it coverage well out of proportion to the event.
This of course, tends to glamourise the concept of gangs to any 'bad lads' and I have driven (as a School Bus driver) with 7, 8, and 9 year old boys who think that there would be no greater ideal in life for them, than to join a gang and rise up through its ranks.
It also puts a bit of fear into people who are unfamiliar with a country and what goes on within it.
Other countries (if we can believe media reports) have a far greater gang problem than NZ has.
New Zealand is safe.
BUT, having said that, there are alot of tourists who lose any concept they may have had of that commodity we call "Common Sense".
Keep your luggage with you. Never have with you any more than you can comfortably carry yourself. Don't use ATM machines if suspicious characters are around. Don't hitch hike at night, or better still, don't hitch hike. (Buses are cheap and will go almost anywhere.)
You'll be as safe in NZ, (or more so), than in any other country.
What else can I say? Just keep taking the tablets and ooops, here come the men in white coats again to take me away.
Have fun and enjoy yourself.
Driver T.

mareeclara

I was asked by a student of mine in England a couple of years ago about how he saw a programme on gangs and was it a problem.. Apart from seeing their houses (with 10foot high fences) around and occasionally seeing them around I have never had anything really to do with them (I did when I worked in South Auckland in a petrol station and they were regular visiters!! I was a bit worried by a couple but were fine in general).
Ironically I found this programme on youtube the other day, just before this girl was killed....and it was quite interesting, and opened my eyes up)...the programme is by Ross Kemp and if you put in key words like New Zealand gangs it will come up with this one (its on the mongrol mob in particular).
Also guns are not common place......

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