The Mongrel Mob's primary rival is theBlack Power gang, and their longstanding feud has resulted in numerous public and violent clashes over the years. Both gangs have a significant presence in New Zealand's criminal underworld, with the Mongrel Mob being one of the most notorious and widely recognised both at home and abroad.
The gang began with a group of mainlyNew Zealand European youths fromWellington andHawke's Bay in the 1960s. Legend within the gang holds that the name originated from the comments of a judge in the Hastings District Court, who referred to a group of men before him asmongrels.[1][7] Whatever the origin, the group embraced the term. By the late 1960s loose groups of rebellious young men in Wellington and Hawke's Bay were calling themselves Mongrels.[1] By 1966 they were wearing patches bearing the name 'Mongrel Mob'.[8]
By about 1970 the Mongrels were also known as the Mongrel Mob, and the gang had expanded to include numerousMāori. Members consider Hastings in Hawke's Bay to be the gang's "Fatherland" or birthplace, and the gang first became known for its violence in Hawke's Bay.[1] Later, similarly named groups sprang up around the country, forming their own independent chapters.
In the 2000s and 2010s, the Mongrel Mob began expanding into parts of Australia.[9][10][11] In 2018 they also expanded into Canada.[12]
Mongrel Mob colours are predominantly red and black. Thepatches usually feature aBritish Bulldog wearing a GermanStahlhelm, which supposedly is an image intended to offend as it is aBritish Bulldog wearing the helmet. The patch is worn on the back of "patched members": those considered loyal and trustworthy enough to be in the gang. The patch will also be tattooed on the member's body. Mob members are known for their tattooed faces and red bandannas.[citation needed]
The gang claims it offers a surrogate family for young men, most of whom are often alienated from their family via joining. A majority of members areMāori, European or otherPolynesian ethnic groups, with Māori predominating.[citation needed]
A "prospect" is a person who is loyal to the gang but is not a "patched member" yet and must normally do errands or "missions" to show his loyalty to his gang. A prospect normally has a patched member to report or "clock in" to.[clarification needed] This patched member normally decides when it is time for the prospect to be "patched".[citation needed]
The hierarchy is: captain or president, vice president, sergeant at arms, patched members, prospects. In some cases they use younger blood gangs as prospects.[clarification needed]
There were 934 members in prison in April 2013, making up more than a tenth of all New Zealand prisoners.[2] In the Wellington region, there were an estimated 194 patched members in 2013.[22]
In 2001, theNew Zealand Police launchedOperation Crusade, a long police surveillance operation of the Christchurch-basedMongrel Mob Aotearoa chapter. The main purpose of the Operation was to disrupt and destroy a suspected drug sales-ring controlled by the Mongrel Mob. Over a 15-month period, the Operation targeted the gang using taps on the phones of known Mongrel Mob Aotearoa members and undercover police buying drugs from the gang. The operation culminated in co-ordinated raids resulting in nearly 40 arrests and a "huge trial" in the High Court at Christchurch.[32]
Joseph 'Junior' Wiringi and most of the chapter's top hierarchy were arrested in 2003 as part of the police investigation on more than 70 charges, including dealing in methamphetamine and magic mushrooms and possessing firearms. The operation confirmed the suspicions of police and revealed brazen drug dealing from the gang's former headquarters on Wilsons Rd.[33]
Operation Walnut was a four-month long investigation targeting an organised methamphetamine supply-and-distribution ring operating out of theMongrel Mob Porirua in the Wellington region.[34] The investigation began in December 2016 when New Zealand Police officers infiltrated the Mongrel Mob via placing undercover officers as associates of the organisation, where they would buy methamphetamine from the gang.[34] As well as undertaking 8 search warrants in the Wellington region, the Operation also targeted a property in the East Auckland suburb ofHowick where the Mongrel Mob is suspected of importing the methamphetamine. The operation involved another 150 New Zealand Police officers, with 120 operating in the Wellington raids and the remaining 30 operating in the Auckland raids. From December 2016 to April 2017, it is thought that the Mongrel Mob had distributed over 20 kilograms of methamphetamine, valued at over$18 million.
The first day of raids led to the confiscation of a Mercedes-Benz, a container property, 2 kilograms of methamphetamine, $450,000 in cash, two stolen motorbikes valued at $30,000, and over 13 vehicles, a jetski, 2 boats, valued at $1.8 million.[34] The second day of the raids led to 7 arrests, as well as grenades, money, 2 kilograms of methamphetamine, locked safes, and 11 guns being found and confiscated.[34] The Operation culminated in 14 arrests; 4 kilograms of methamphetamine, valued at $3.6 million; $2.3 million in property; and $500,000 in cash being confiscated.
Confiscated firearms positioned on a confiscated motorcycle
In October 2017,Operation Notus was launched because of community concern in regards to theMongrel Mob Kawerau and their alleged involvement in the 'commercial distribution of methamphetamine and cannabis' within the community.[35] The six-month-long investigation involved over 300 New Zealand Police staff, including the Auckland-based National Organised Crime Group, Tauranga-basedArmed Offenders Squads, and the locally based Asset Recovery Unit.[35] The investigation proved the community concern to be accurate, and led to the arrests of over 30 members, and associates, of the Mongrel Mob Kawerau.[35][36] The final number of arrested associates stood at 38 arrested, with more arrests likely to occur[37]
The investigation culminated with the raids of over 40 properties, in Kawerau,Ōpōtiki,Whakatāne; and 3 properties inGisborne andHastings; leading to the subsequent arrest of the 30 associates.[35] Along with the arrests, the police confiscated over 25 firearms, over$2.6 million worth of methamphetamine, over $100,000 in bank accounts as well as over 100 cannabis plants.[37][35][36][38] Also confiscated were residential property, boats, jet-skis, motorcycles, and cars.[35] Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Commander Inspector Kevin Taylor said, "We are committed to protecting our communities from the harm caused by organised crime and today's arrests will go a long way to disrupting the supply of methamphetamine and cannabis in Kawerau and wider Bay of Plenty region."[35] Kawerau is commonly known as a 'red-town', a town that is known to be a Mongrel Mob stronghold.[39]
On 14 August 1981,Mongrel Mob Wellington leader Lester Epps awoke outside the gang pad. Epps had fought members of the Eastern Suburbs Rugby League Club at the Tramway Hotel the night before. Epps tried to flee through theBasin Reserve, however he was ultimately caught and beaten. He died later in hospital. All people involved eventually received 18-month prison terms for manslaughter.[41][42]
In December 1986, a young woman was kidnapped by the Mongrel Mob and taken to a convention inAmbury Park in Auckland, where she was subsequently raped by over 15 members of the gang.[43]
In June 1987, Mongrel Mob member Sam Te Hei raped and murdered 16-year-old Colleen Burrows in Napier.[41][44]
In 2003, members of theMurupara Mongrel Mob, and theTribesmen MC Murupara chapters were involved in multiple methamphetamine laboratories that were raided by police.[45]
On 9 September 2011, a member of theWairoa Mongrel Mob chapter fired a sawn-off shotgun at a local Rugby League match because there were Black Power gang members in attendance.[46]
In August 2016, a 31-year-old withMongrel Mob Aotearoa links and under the influence of methamphetamine and alcohol caused a crash with a taxi in Christchurch, injuring two people.[47]
According to theNorthern Territory News, between the establishment of theMongrel Mob Darwin in September 2016 and January 2017, there were roughly four unreported assaults involving Mongrel Mob members, including a brawl with a member of the AustralianHells Angels.[17]
On 13 January 2018, a gunfight erupted in Whakatāne,Bay of Plenty, when a funeral procession of theMongrel Mob Kawerau chapter was ambushed by members of the Outback Blacks – a sub-chapter of Black Power.[48]
On 10 March 2018, Joe Edmonds, a senior Mongrel Mob member, was deported from Australia, along with four others, for allegedly attempting to establish a Mongrel Mob chapter in Western Australia.[27]
On 22 March 2018, police raided four houses in Ōpōtiki, leading to threeMongrel Mob Barbarians members being arrested and charged with a "connection to the supply of methamphetamine in Ōpōtiki."[49]
On 22 October 2024, the Mongrel Mob Barbarians MC'sEast Bay chapter in Ōpōtiki was targeted by aNorth Island-wide Police operation calledOperation Highwater. Police arrested 28 people and seized about NZ$800,000 in assets.[50] In response,Te Pati Māori co-leaderRawiri Waititi and local Māori leader Te Aho accused the Police of terrorising Māori families during the operation.Police MinisterMark Mitchell defended Police's conduct during the operation, rejecting accusations of racism, bias and intimidation. The Police also countered that Operation Highwater had the support of local Māori leaders acrossWhakatōhea.[51][52] By 31 October, Police had filed 99 charges against 28 individuals including 20 significant drug charges following a ten-month investigation into the Ōpōtiki chapter.[53] On 5 November, Mitchell denied allegations that children had been left unsupervised in Ōpōtiki following their parents' and guardians' arrests.[54]
In 2005, the Mongrel Mob Notorious chapter and itsPresident Roy Dunn started a labour-hire business to do painting, demolition, and other work. Dunn said, "We are setting this up for our kids, creating the employment, bringing them in."[55] A search on the New ZealandCompanies Office showed that Dunn was a joint-shareholder in two companies, both named Rent A Bro Limited at one point, however the older company's name was changed to BRO 2007 Limited in 2011,[56] just months before the second company was incorporated.[57] BRO 2007 was incorporated in 2007 asRent A Bro Limited and changed its name to BRO 2007 Limited in 2011 and subsequently removed from the company registry in 2012. Rent A Bro Limited was incorporated in 2011 and was removed from the company registry in 2013.
In 2010, Dunn and hisMāngere-based Notorious chapter announced the Hauora Programme partnership withthe Salvation Army to combatmethamphetamine drug use. By 2013, they had completed five intakes of 'P' users who wanted to rid themselves of addiction.[14]
In mid July 2021,Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern confirmed that she and several Government ministers includingGrant Robertson,Poto Williams andKris Faafoi had approved $2.75 million in funding to support the Mongrel Mob-led Kahukura drug and trauma rehabilitation scheme. The scheme is run by the charity Hard2Reach which aims to address trauma and drug abuse through a live-inmarae based inWaipawa using funds from criminal proceeds that had been seized by the Police. TheMinistry of Health also confirmed that it supported the Kahukura proposal to receive funding under the Proceeds of Crime, which is run by theMinistry of Justice. The Government's support for the Kahukura scheme was criticised by the oppositionNational Party leaderJudith Collins andSimeon Brown,Sensible Sentencing Trust co-leaderDarroch Ball, and mental health advocateMike King.[58][59][60]
Jono Rotman (2007) – aphotographer; has featured members of the Mongrel Mob gang in a series of award-winning, traditionalportraits[62]
Arman Alizad, a Finnish journalist visited the Mongrel Mob in his TV-series:Arman ja viimeinen ristiretki – Uusi Seelanti – Maorijengit (Arman and the last crusade – New Zealand – Māori gangs)
