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The government stands accused of sending mixed messages in its war on P-producing criminals following revelations senior Mongrel Mob and Black Power members were flown to Auckland at taxpayers' expense for a secret hui with a minister.
At least one drug kingpin, with convictions for manufacturing methamphetamine in a multimillion-dollar drug operation, was among those present at the meeting at Te Puni Kokiri's Auckland office in March, which Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples opened by telling the 16 assembled gang heads there were "new rules here – respect", and asking about their gripes in getting assistance from government agencies.
Sharples also congratulated the gangsters on decreasing gang violence. "I need to thank you for that. I want to acknowledge that. Parliament sure hasn't. They say `I'm not talking to a gang member'," he told the hui.
"Why are we fighting whakapapa against whakapapa? There's so much enemy that is not brown."
More than $6200 was spent on the hui, called in response to concerns about gang and community violence, including $4980 on airfares and $820 in petrol vouchers for the gang leaders from around the country. Details of the secret meeting, at which Te Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira was also present, were released to the Sunday Star-Times in response to an Official Information Act request.
Denis O'Reilly, a Napier-based Black Power spokesman and anti-P campaigner who was one of the delegates present, said Sharples' meeting with the gang leaders was "completely consistent" with the government's avowed war on P.
"There's always been a public face and a private face in these things," he said. Sharples had an influence with the men, whom he addressed "as Maori leaders, not gang members".
"That's not to say Sharples had everyone nodding their heads in agreement. It was more like being called into the headmaster's study."
"They [gangs] are Maori. They are our children and our nephews, whether we like it or not. While we don't think gangs are a good lifestyle, it doesn't mean to say we turn our back on our own children."
The government stands accused of sending mixed messages in its war on P-producing criminals following revelations senior Mongrel Mob and Black Power members were flown to Auckland at taxpayers' expense for a secret hui with a minister.
At least one drug kingpin, with convictions for manufacturing methamphetamine in a multimillion-dollar drug operation, was among those present at the meeting at Te Puni Kokiri's Auckland office in March, which Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples opened by telling the 16 assembled gang heads there were "new rules here – respect", and asking about their gripes in getting assistance from government agencies.
Sharples also congratulated the gangsters on decreasing gang violence. "I need to thank you for that. I want to acknowledge that. Parliament sure hasn't. They say `I'm not talking to a gang member'," he told the hui.
"Why are we fighting whakapapa against whakapapa? There's so much enemy that is not brown."
More than $6200 was spent on the hui, called in response to concerns about gang and community violence, including $4980 on airfares and $820 in petrol vouchers for the gang leaders from around the country. Details of the secret meeting, at which Te Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira was also present, were released to the Sunday Star-Times in response to an Official Information Act request.
Denis O'Reilly, a Napier-based Black Power spokesman and anti-P campaigner who was one of the delegates present, said Sharples' meeting with the gang leaders was "completely consistent" with the government's avowed war on P.
"There's always been a public face and a private face in these things," he said. Sharples had an influence with the men, whom he addressed "as Maori leaders, not gang members".
"That's not to say Sharples had everyone nodding their heads in agreement. It was more like being called into the headmaster's study."
"They [gangs] are Maori. They are our children and our nephews, whether we like it or not. While we don't think gangs are a good lifestyle, it doesn't mean to say we turn our back on our own children."
