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The leader of a drug ring that once manufactured the largest amount of meth in New Zealand has served enough time of his 21-year prison sentence to see him eligible for parole.
But Brownie Joseph Harding has refused to take part in a drug rehabilitation programme while behind bars, making his chance of release slim.
Harding, now in his late 40s, was sentenced in 2017 to 28 years and six months for supervising the production of almost 6.5kg of meth - the largest single case of meth manufacturing at the time - at a house in Waiotira, Northland, from September to December 2014.
Brownie Harding in the High Court at Whangarei during his sentencing in 2017. Photo / Michael Cunningham
Harding, who has been in custody since his arrest in 2014, recently reached his MPI and this week he appeared before the Parole Board to plead his case for an early release.
‘It was because of poverty’
When talking to the board about his offending, Harding said he was never a meth user and it was poverty that had led to him joining the Head Hunters.
“Initially when I joined the gangs it was because of poverty. There was a stage in my life I couldn’t even take my son to the doctor. I had no gas. As a father, that’s what made me join the gangs.”
The principle target of Operation Easter, Brownie Harding, caught under surveillance by police. Photo / Supplied
The father of seven said he was poorly educated and had not considered the impact his offending had on others.
“I played a part in a role that did damage to the community, that did damage to children, where children went hungry because their parents were too busy buying drugs.
“So I see the damage and even being incarcerated I still see the damage it’s doing to people in here.
“They have no control and I own that experience being in here.
“At the time I didn’t care what people did. Ten years ago was a long time and the person I am today is not that same person.”
Harding said that since he had been incarcerated he had learned to read and write and had become educated in the basics of law.
But the board told him that it had received reports stating he was unmotivated to complete the required alcohol and drug treatment programme.
He said any further courses Corrections could offer him were “beyond him and would make him go backward”.
The Northland house where Harding was caught running a meth production operation. Photo / NZME
Harding spent the earlier part of his sentence in Northland Regional Corrections Facility but was later moved to Auckland South Corrections Facility.
He claimed the Auckland prison was the most violent prison he had been in and he was faced with daily challenges given he had left the Head Hunters gang.
Young was perplexed as to why Harding would not do the programme if it meant it might increase his chances of an early release.
“It wouldn’t be a bad thing for you to hear from a lot of the people who are addicted in the context of the programme to help you understand the terrible hurt you’ve caused.”
Harding went on to express safety concerns about attending the programme, claiming other prisoners wanted to take out “hits” on him.
Young said it was the first the board had heard of it.
“It sounds like needless, self-defeating stuff to me,” Young said.
The final question put to Harding was whether he accepted that he spearheaded the meth operation.
“So you weren’t the spearhead?” a board member queried.
“No ... I pled guilty to the charges that were placed in front of me,” Harding finished.
His parole was subsequently declined. He will have another opportunity to go before the board in a year.
Shannon Pitman is a Whangārei based reporter for Open Justice covering courts in the Te Tai Tokerau region. She is of Ngāpuhi/ Ngāti Pūkenga descent and has worked in digital media for the past five years. She joined NZME in 2023.
