WHO'S AT RISK?

Gang violence and crime is present in our society, whether you ignore this or not, the fact that our children, family, friends and innocent by-standers are at risk of being victims of this issue.

A sad incident which occurred in May 2007 was the death of Wanganui toddler Jhia Te Tua. An organised criminal group from the Mongrel Mob fired the fatal shots into the Gonville home of Black Power member Josh Te Tua, killing two year old Jhia who was sleeping on the couch, (TVNZ National News, 2009).

This gang related drive by shooting has made a lot of New Zealanders more aware of what is happening in our country, and the death of this little innocent child has touched many hearts. Justice was served and three men were sentenced to life imprisonment, but this will never replace the life that was loss because of gang affiliation. This is a definite eye opener as a gang do not care about the people they come across, as long as they get the job done. Jhia did not belong to a gang, but because one of her family members is a part of the Black Power, arch-rivals of the Mongrel Mob, Jhia was caught in the middle.

Gang violence in our community has also terrorised many people. In Hamilton 2007, New Zealand posties suspended deliveries around the Fairfield suburb. Fairfield residents have said “the area was home to several gangs, including the Mongrel Mob and Black Power”, (Gang violence stops NZ Post deliveries, 2007). What was believed to be a gang-related shooting has put New Zealand posties at risk of their job delivering 50 letters a day around the Fairfield area. This shows that everyone is at risk of being a victim or a part of gang violence and crime, thankfully no one from the New Zealand Post was hurt, but again this is an insight of what can happen in our own back yard.

Early last year a gang rivalry made headlines because a teenager died as he was run down by a vehicle and dragged until he became free. Jordan Herewini a 16 year old teenager was caught in gang rivalry crossfire. Jordan had no gang connections nor was he in gang, but because he was wearing a yellow t-shirt, the colour of Tribesman gang, he was a target of the Mongrel Mob. One of the Herewini family members believe that Jordan was a target of initiation into earning a place in a gang, and this illustrates the kind of acts someone will do to earn a patch. New Zealand has changed dramatically by the influence of gang culture, but we are still in hiding as no one wants to face up to this issue.



CONCLUSION
"A gang is a group of people which shares an identity and a common purpose. The term has come to be associated specifically with street gangs, which organize for the purpose of carrying out illegal activity which may vary from inciting conflict with other gangs to dealing drugs", (Smith, 2003).

I guess that we can all relate to this topic in some ways, but the reality which has hit home is that their are many people who are affected by the gang culture which is around us. As a nation we should all admit the fact that gangs play a big part in society, and the only way to control this, is to accept the mistakes that we have made in managing this matter. Health of Children, 2010 suggests that gangs serve some individuals as a substitute family structure, membership imparts a sense of empowerment as members act together to defend territory and provide mutual protection. Youth gangs typically engage in delinquent, criminal, and violent activities, often for financial gain. This is a good starting point where we can change the gang culture in New Zealand, and provide the right support systems for our youth and future generation.