Mother begs gangster to give himself up

Tifiga Atanoa

The mother of dying, armed, and extremely dangerous fugitive Tifiga Atanoa today pleaded for her son to give himself up before he is shot.

Nia Atanoa, 58, made her emotional plea at Mangere Police Station in South Auckland, calling her son to surrender and go to the doctor for treatment for the lymph node cancer that is killing him.

The cancer had caused a large growth on the right-hand side of his neck.

Police said Atanoa had only a short time to live and had told numerous sources he would not be taken by police and "will continue to offend until he dies".

Atanoa is known to be armed with a pump action shotgun and at least one other firearm.

Police said he was extremely dangerous and should not be approached.

They issued a public warning after he failed to appear in court on firearms and drugs charges.

Police also believed Atanoa, a patched Mongrel Mob member, was committing violent crimes against gang associates to fuel his methamphetamine addition.

He was believed to be taking up to two grams of 'P' a day.

Police said he was thought to be committing violent crimes at night and sleeping in motels or safe houses during the day.

Today his mother pleaded with him to surrender.

"Please come forward. We really want to see you now," she said. "Humble yourself. Please give up. Put down the gun."

Mrs Atanoa said police were doing their job but the family had told them they did not want police to shoot him.

"We love you. Please son, wherever you are, come forward.

"I want you to come and see the doctor because you have a bad cancer," she said.

Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone said it was particularly difficult for the family to go public but their son was a danger to the community and needed to be apprehended.

He said anybody with information should ring police on 09 295 0220 or, if they sighted him, make an emergency 111 call.

- NZPA