Introduction

Before I launch into discussing my thoughts around gangs in Aotearoa New Zealand I want to introduce myself.

My name is Kyro – I am 48 and have lived in this beautiful country for that many years. I am originally from a small town in taranaki. I moved to Wellington in 1977 and have moved around the country for many years – in fact I can say I have been from the bluff to the cape - however, I call wellington home.

My life has not been easy – adopted to a religious family I was not treated well and after the death of my adopted mother I became estranged from my adopted father. In my youth I got into trouble mostly minor crimes and by 22 I went to Hanmer Springs to detox. By 26 I decided to try and get work and since then I have successfully gained a degree in sociology, my Masters and am in the throws of completing my PhD. To find out what I am doing go to my Victoria University homepage:
http://www.victoria.ac.nz/geo/people/grads/kyro-selket/index.html


Politically I consider myself to sit to the left of the political spectrum and am passionate about a number of issues. I have over the years been involved in the socialist movement – took my place in the frontline in 1981 against the Springbok tour – later that year I participated in another occupation of Bastion Point. By this time I had been out (identified as gay) for a number of years and was part of the Homosexual Law Reform movement in Christchurch. Whilst I no longer consider myself a feminist my politics are underpinned by feminist politics and a belief that gender equity is still achievable.

I am of course not religious, being opposed to organised religions I prefer to draw on a more spiritual approach to understanding the world and am really drawn to native American philosophy/spirituality – especially the interconnectedness of humans with their environment.

Until Jordan’s murder I have only ever encountered gangs once in my teens and again when I worked in the Women’s prison in Christchurch. Like many mainstream Pakeha I have been able to look in on the debates about gangs from a safe distance. This heinous crime was the last thing I ever imagined would come to play in my safe world.

The pain Jordan’s murder has had on his mother and his sister is unfathomable. And the fact that Jordan’s mother must know deal circuitously with this element of society pains me even more.

So this is why I want to talk about this. There are some subjects that I will not engage in the first being any discussion about Jordan – that is for his mother and his family to do or not do. All I want to say is that I knew Jordan only briefly and in that time I was blown away by his intelligence, his politics and his sense of Maoritanga. I will not engage in any discussion about Jordan’s family, as I have said this blog is about looking at ways people in Aotearoa New Zealand – especially Pakeha people can stand up and support workable changes around gangs in this country. When I say ‘gangs’ I know that my abhorrence is with the actions of the mongrel mob, however to isolate them as the only gang in ANZ is unproductive and bias. Gangs exist in all parts of society- they rang from entrenched gangs such as the mob – black power and neo-Nazi/white supremacist groups. I also include the mobile assembling of boy racers who through the use of txt messaging can call on hundreds of young men to come together and commit crimes as we have seen in Christchurch. But I am certainly aware that much of my discussion will surely center on the affects the mongrel mob has had on my life.

So you want to know anything about me ask – I am happy to share as long as it is relevant to the topics I am blogging about.

Alternatives to gangs

Each and every time I begin to discuss the issue of gangs in Aotearoa New Zealand I start with the murder of Jordan Robert Herewini, for one reason and one reason only – on the 27th January 2009 - a member of the gang known as the mongrel mob murdered Jordan in a most brutal and horrific act of violence.

This horrific act of violence stole Jordan’s life and ripped apart his whakapapa. This blog then is not only a discussion space for challenging this country to do something about gangs, it is also a tribute to Jordan Robert Herewini – a sixteen year old boy stolen from his family, his friends, and his future.

Until Jordan’s death I have never had much contact or knowledge about gang’s. I have watched news items, and I have talked with women from gang’s whilst working in the women’s prison in Christchurch. Jordan’s death has brought the gangs closer than I have ever wished to be.

Two weeks ago I sat in a Rotorua court room surrounded by mongrel mob members who showed little remorse for their actions. Instead they seemed to be at home, happy in catching up with each other. Each and every one of them ignored the posted signs on the courtroom door asking that gang regalia be taken off. Instead they turned their patches inside out, barked out their sieg heil’s to each other and openly signaled each other with their particular hand signals. Whilst the police asked them to remove their scarves and hats little was done about their other acts, acts that I suggest where in contempt of the court and of Jordan’s family and friends.

Whilst I realize that I and others cannot rid Aotearoa New Zealand of gangs I do believe that something has to change – at the least I would like to see the gangs made to conform whilst attending court, especially in such cases as murder, at the most gangs cannot continue to kill our children, prospect for new recruits or continue to take over communities.

This site then is a place for discussion, a place where people can share their personal stories in relation to their experiences in and around gangs. This is not a space for anti- Maori sentiment, nor is this a space for expressing rightwing hatred. This is a place where Maori, Pakeha and others can share and learn from each other and call on local councils and our government to listen to us.