Council to ban gang patches after outrage over Māori wards celebration

Friday, 30 August 2024

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council came under fire after patched Mongrel Mob members were filmed in council chamber performing haka.

Gang patches have been outlawed from council buildings since 2013.

The council will now erect “no gang patches” signs following the outrage.

“No gang patch” signs will be erected at Hawke’s Bay Regional Council headquarters following criticism aimed at the council’s apparent unawareness of the law as it applies to gang insignia.

Video was shot on Wednesday at a vote on whether to keep Māori wards and shows several Mongrel Mob members wearing their regalia.

The Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Act 2013 prohibits the display of gang insignia on premises of departments of the public service, the Police, Crown entities, local authorities, and schools.

The small group were filmed doing a haka after the vote to retain the council’s Māori constituencies had taken place.

Associate Justice Minister David Seymour criticised the council for allowing the gang members on site.

“This display shows exactly why ACT’s coalition commitment for Hawke’s Bay residents to have their say by secret ballot is so important. It also shows a council with seriously out of touch priorities, a very good example of councils not focusing on their core job.”

Minister of Local Government Simeon Brown told Stuff gang patches were already banned in public buildings.

“Gang insignia should not be on display in a council chamber … as Minister of Local Government, I expect councils to uphold the law,” he said.

On Thursday, the council defended its actions, with a spokesperson saying, “Regional Council has not previously needed a gang-related policy”.

“Gang members arrived part way through a council meeting in an already packed council chamber and it would have been inappropriate to deal with their arrival in those circumstances,” the spokesperson said.

On Friday, the council’s chief executive officer Nic Peet said signs would be erected advising visitors that gang insignia was not allowed in the building.

“We note that safety of the public, councillors and staff is paramount so we would likely need police support around non-compliance,” Peet said.

“We are talking to other councils about their approach given [Wednesday] was an unexpected event.”

The exact wording to appear on the signs had not yet been determined.