Gang crime in New Zealand?

Question

I've been told by quite a few people that New Zealand has quite a lot of gang crime, largely Maori gangs. How much of a problem is it for the average person in New Zealand, and is the crime comparable to the sort of gang crime that goes on in the UK?

Thanks

Answer 1

OMG there was a NZ gang program on tv just last night! Ummm i don't think its a problem, i've never seen a gang member in person and i guess that's because i don't live in the poorer parts of the country. The program said that there was about 40,000 gang members throughout NZ and a lot of them were in places up in the north island that i had never heard of!

Answer 2

im from the uk but have lived in Auckland for 3 years now.I think there is a prob im afraid and i also think its a tad worse than the uk- i could be wrong.It just seems that the trouble is worse here with Guns knives n alsorts being used.The news now has just reported the mongrel mob bashing people at a party last night and in return there group house was tourched. Just last summer a baby girl was shot through the window of her house whilst she slept on the sofa,that was gang related. I dno if it is maybe an american influence .One thing i do know is that the people who have blaimed  Maoris are wrong,They all shouldnt be tard with the same brush as i think the gangs are made up of lots of cultures.I to saw the program the other night,its scarey stuff and  yes i do think gangs are a HUGE problem here

Answer 3

Its not just gangs, its also individuals that commit crimes... I think its a huge problem, and quite scary... Im a kiwi, and have been living away from NZ for 11yrs now, would I ever go back there to live? No way, its not a place that I want to go back to, and certainly not where I want my kids to be raised... I also have many family members that are in 2 particular gangs, and its sad to see there kids, and there kids, kids following in there footsteps...

Answer 4

Hi i asked a question much like yours a couple of days back...Nelson, New zealand and maori's...i have a few replys you could go have a look at what people have said regarding my question might help you out abit :)

Answer 5

I have had a stroke. At 29. One day, I thought I would walk to my place...it was 300 meters away.  didn't want to pay a taxi. Overestimated myself. A man in full gang outfit and covered in tattoos (all over his face), helped me get home. One of the kindest, politest people I have met. Helped me up the stairs.

Answer 6

there are gangs but you never encounter them. i only see them on the news. yeah they're mostly maori. not much crime in nz, except in poorer parts of auckland (just like any other city in the world).

Answer 7

Yup we got gangs and they are a motley lot and we have seen an increase in teen gangs etc blah blah blah!

I think you would have more chance of having a pleasant cup of tea with our lot than you would with there counterparts in the UK or elsewhere for that matter.

Paranoia always moves in not long after commonsense has fled! In other words you just go about your daily life as always and avoid the places these type of people frequent or live.

I watched that dude from Eastenders one night visiting different countries around the world and making contact with gangs - wow our lot is like purring kittens to the gangs he met in the UK, Poland and South America.

Answer 8

Gang crime in Nz is a big problem. The biggest problem however is that everyone lables maori as the only ones in a gang when a large percentage is also pacific islanders who have migrated to NZ and of course the white folk involved too.

There are areas that suffer from gang presence more than others. The crime that are mainly committed by gangs is drugs. So really unless you are living in South Auckland (which I 100% would not recommend it gangs are a huge problem there, which have bag snatchings and stabbings) than if you are clean you probably won't ever encounter a problem with a member. The biggest gangs that are the problem at the moment are the killer bees, mongrel mob and black power - however there are also biker gangs etc.

New Zealand is a very beautiful place to live and I wouldn't let a small group of people scare you off - the best place to live I think without gang intimidation is Hawkes Bay - they keep to themselves here, just don't live in the suburbs of Maraenui, flaxmere and some areas in Tamatea you'll be right

Answer 9

yes gangs exist in New Zealand

For me an average New Zealander have I ever thought of it as a problem? NO

Do i feel unsafe in NZ? NO

I have lived here for 24 years in both the north and the south island and I have never ever witnessed any sort of criminal activity, or felt a threat to my personal safety.

The main reason why many people seem to be becoming obsessed that NZ is an unsafe nation is because we are so small and criminal activity is few and far between(in comparison to other places, like even australia and the Uk have MUCH higher crime rates) so when anything major does happen, like the robbery of a liquor store last week that resulted in the death of the owner due to a gunshot - these things make headlines around the world.

So in short i would say gang crime is not a problem for the average new zealander. I hope this helps

new zealand is number 52 in a list comparing the number of murders per thousand people in different country. Australia is 43 and the UK is 46

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_mu...

as for rape australia ranks 4th highest and the UK 7th!! NZ is down at number 30

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_ra...

and as for total crimes the UK comes in at number 3, NZ number 22

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_to...

ooh and heres more interesting links, Auckland, NZ rated 5th in the quality of living mercer global study and wellington number 12. for personal safety auckland and wellington were tied at number 10, meanwhile the only city in the whole of the UK to feature in the top 50 safe cities was Glasgow at number 43!! the figures say it all

http://www.mercer.com/pressrelease/detai...

Answer 10

First time i have heard of new zealanders and gang in the same sentence.

I honestly dont know if there is alot of crime there but i dont think there would be.

I want to see if anyone else knows.