Mayor urges more liquor bans to help cut gang violence

Barry Curtis

Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis wants stronger controls on alcohol, including liquor bans, to combat an outburst of gang-related violence in Otahuhu and nearby.

Sir Barry said it was time for communities, parents and church groups to take responsibility for the problem, which mainly involved young Maori and Pacific Islanders.

His comments follow Monday's appearance of 25-year-old Prestman Vesiputa Tauira in Manukau District Court, charged with the murder of Faafetai Lafolua.

It is alleged Tauira ran down the father of three in his car and dragged him more than 2km.

Yesterday, Sir Barry met the head of Counties Manukau police to discuss the clashes that led to the deaths of Mr Lafolua and Mangere man Haruru Pekepo, shot dead in July.

Sir Barry said alcohol was a common cause of violence.

Liquor bans in Mangere town centre had reduced drunken gatherings there, he said. However, the problem had simply shifted to Otahuhu.

"There's only one liquor ban in Otahuhu, which applies to the main street," he said. "I have written to Auckland City Mayor Dick Hubbard urging his council to consider wider liquor bans there, as that would give police the powers they need."

Sir Barry said there were two categories of gangs:

* Neighbourhood gangs were involved in street clashes, rather than crime.

* "Feeder gangs" fed members into patched gangs such as the Mongrel Mob. They did not get involved in street violence but carried out crimes such as selling drugs.

Sir Barry said it was time for families and communities to become more active in finding a solution.

He said gang members were almost exclusively from Maori or Pacific families, who were often church-going.

"The violence we're seeing would never be tolerated back in the villages of Samoa or the Cook Islands, because the whole community there would stop it.

"It shouldn't be tolerated here, either."

Maori wardens played an effective role in curbing alcohol-related violence, and their role should be extended, he said.

"Only a small number of youths in the city are caught up in gangs but they are causing a huge problem for the police and residents. The violence drags down the mana of the whole city, and we must get on top of it."

A public meeting to discuss the problem will be held in Otahuhu Community Hall on Monday.

- NZPA