Gang workers want project expanded

A forensic officer gathers evidence at the makeshift shrine where Faafetai Lafolua was hit by a car. Picture / Paul Estcourt

A South Auckland group working to prevent gang violence plans to address Otahuhu's community leaders and students following the violent death of Faafetai Lafolua.

Mr Lafolua was with members of street gang SPI (South Pacific Islanders) mourning the loss of a friend, Haruru Pekepo, when he was run down in Otahuhu on Friday night.

He was dragged 2km under a car to his death.

Mr Pekepo was shot dead in the same street Mr Lafolua died in less than a month ago.

There are reports that Mr Lafolua and Mr Pekepo's deaths were the result of gang-related turf wars between SPI and FMS (F ... n Mangere Styles).

Although arrests have been made in the cases there are concerns the gang-related violence will not end unless the issue is addressed by the Otahuhu community.

The chairman of the Otara Youth Action Group, Len Brown, wants to see an Otara initiative replicated in Otahuhu.

Mr Brown said the group was established last year after tension between gangs which led to the murder of a Flatbush man, Iulio Naea Kilepoa.

The group then created a service called 274, which involves youth workers working closely with gangs and giving them other options.

The youth workers provide venues and activities for the gangs - effectively taking them off the street and into a supervised venue. In doing so they gain trust and build a relationship with the youth workers.

The programme, which is funded by the Government, is setting up in Manurewa and Mangere but Mr Brown said it was needed in Otahuhu as well.

He plans to talk to community leaders and schools this week.

Mr Brown said he was aware the gang issues reflected badly on South Auckland.

"I'm a South Aucklander. I just can't stand this. It hurts our pride and our reputation."

However, he said it was important that people realised something was being done about the problem.

Mr Brown believes 274 has already prevented several potentially violent situations, with youth workers being able to intervene when they heard of tensions between rival gangs.

A recent example was the fatal street stabbing of 18-year-old Kelly Lawrence in Manurewa last month.

There were rumours of gangs wanting retribution but Mr Brown said intervention had managed to relieve those tensions.

He hopes the same kind of programme will be able to be developed in Otahuhu - an area from where gang activity often crosses over into Otara and Mangere.

Mr Brown said: "We want to sit down with senior school kids and work through with them the issues. We want to give them life outside of gangs.

"We don't want to lose this generation. There is a lot at stake. We don't want to continually lose these young lives to this recklessness."