'Reasonably' well-behaved': Police give update on the operation to monitor gang member's tangi

Saturday, 25 November 2023

Police are continuing to monitor the movements of gang members travelling south towards Foxton ahead of funeral proceedings for William Hines. (First published November 25).

Police seized a stolen car, impounded a motorbike and issued several infringement notices as a convoy of various gangs headed south from Auckland to travel to the funeral of Head Hunters member William ‘Bird’ Hines in Foxton.

Hines, aged around 70, was a senior OG (original gangster) of the gang and spent his life in and out of jail.

In 2017, he was jailed for 18 and a half years for his involvement in a million-dollar methamphetamine ring, but was released on compassionate grounds in 2022 due to poor health – diabetes, end-stage renal failure and heart disease.

Hines is expected to be buried near Foxton, where gang members from Auckland and southern New Zealand began travelling to on Saturday..

The convoy arrived in Foxton shortly before 8pm on Saturday night, before the tangi on Monday.

Police Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson briefed media on Saturday afternoon, and re-iterated public safety was his top priority.

Police say there will be a significant police presence in Foxton and surrounding areas over the next couple of days as gang members convene for the tangi of senior Head Hunters member William “Bird” Hines.

Over 100 police staff and a helicopter were deployed to deal with the over 100 motorcyclists from various gangs who had joined the convoy. The helicopter was helping to assist with monitoring the roading network, and would remain in the central police district for as long as it was required, Johnson said.

Johnson was unable to say how much the operation was costing but said police’s focus had been to mitigate any disruptions to the roading network.

Police Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson talks to media about funeral proceedings for William Hines.

He said police were not sure how many people will be in Foxton on Monday for the tangi, with gang members travelling from both islands, but they were planning for all eventualities.

Johnson warned the Foxton community that they would see increased levels of policing in the coming days, but said they wanted to reassure the public and allow them to go about their normal daily activities.

Johnson urged anyone who witnesses any offending taking place by members of the convoy, to report it to police.

It is expected that the additional traffic on the roads will cause travel delays.

Gang funeral activity often prompts extra attention from the police. (File photo of a Head Hunters funeral in Grey Lynn in 2021).

Police had been anticipating the funeral for some time and “have been making arrangements accordingly” to target illegal behaviour and to mitigate disruption to the public on the roads, Johnson said in an earlier statement.

“Our planning is well advanced, and police have been engaging with various parties so we can ensure expectations are clearly set on the behaviour that will be tolerated on our roads,” Johnson said.

“Our expectations are very clear around no tolerance for unlawful activity that puts the wider community at risk.”

“Police will take enforcement action where necessary and provided it is safe to do so. We will also have the ability to follow up on any other reported offending so we can hold those involved to account.”

Hundreds of Mongrel Mob members gathered for the tangi of Steven Taiatini in June.

Gang tangi can cause significant disruption to local communities, and a June gathering in Ōpōtiki for the funeral of slain Mongrel Mob Barbarians boss Steven Taiatini became an election issue, with National leader Christopher Luxon accusing then prime minister Chris Hipkins of being unable to maintain control of the town.

Hundreds of gang members descended on the town, with reports of shots being fired, which appeared to be linked to drug dealing – police subsequently searched eight vehicles and found weapons, firearms and drugs.

The Mongrel Mob funeral procession for Taiatini temporarily closed State Highway 2, with police Bay of Plenty District Commander Tim Anderson saying at the time that while he appreciated some motorists would have experienced delays, safety was the main priority.

Police also maintained a strong presence for another gang tangi in June, which was held in South Auckland – large numbers of gang members attended that event, causing minor traffic disruptions, and police said they were “relatively pleased” with the behaviour of those involved.

It’s not clear how gang tangi will play out under the new National-led government, with incoming prime minister Christopher Luxon having pledged to ban gang patches in public places.

'I make no apologies for being tough on gangs, we're going to ban those gang patches,” Luxon said on the campaign trail. “We're going to give the police dispersal powers for criminal activity break-up powers, warrant and search powers. We will make it an aggravating factor.'

Then prime minister Chris Hipkins, himself a former police minister, rubbished the proposal as unworkable, and said that it would have taken thousands of police officers to enforce a ban on gang patches at the tangi in Ōpōtiki in June.

Reports can be made via 105 over the phone or at www.police.govt.nz/use-105. Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.