Communities around New Zealand are mobilising to 'rescue our young' from being lured into youth gangs. In this first of a five-part series, the Herald reports on headway being made in Otara.
Youth workers in five New Zealand communities that have had serious gang problems say the gangs' influence among young people is finally waning.
A Herald investigation in Otara, Mangere, Manurewa, Kawerau and Gisborne has found some young people are still being attracted to both Los Angeles-style three-letter "ABC" gangs and affiliates of older local gangs.
But strong community responses in each place have shut the gangs out of schools and are having some success in attracting young people to other activities such as sports, hip-hop dancing and trades training.
"The Killer Beez are still around, the wannabes are still around, but there is peace in the land," said veteran Otara youth worker Sully Paea.
Sergeant Rob Woodley of the Genesis Youth Project said youth gangs were now much less evident.
"In 2006 you would see colours everywhere - blue, red, whatever," he said. "These days it's less visual. We're making good headway."
An official report by the Ministry of Social Development says youth gang activity across South Auckland has dropped since the ministry launched a four-year, $10 million programme funding 22 youth workers, six integrated case workers and seven parenting schemes.
The programme started after a record 34 young offenders were caught for killings in the area in 2005.
Young offenders involved in killings dropped to 15 in 2006, six in 2007, seven in 2008 and four in 2009.
An annual survey by the former Manukau City Council found that the proportion of Manukau residents who felt safe in their neighbourhood at night increased from 61 per cent in 2006 to 77 per cent in 2009, although it fell back to 70 per cent last year.
Police statistics show a more mixed picture. Despite the dramatic drop in killings, the total of young offenders aged 20 or under caught for violent offences in Counties-Manukau trended steeply upwards from 1411 in 2005 to 2065 in 2009.
Total youth offences in the district rose from 6705 in 2005 to 8679 in 2009 and 9584 in the year ending last June.
But the ministry report said the increases were "largely driven by an increase in the number of apprehensions for disorder, alcohol offences and minor assaults".
"Stakeholders suggested that these increases could reflect more proactive policing, changes in police focus and the increase in police numbers in Counties-Manukau," it said.
The Government has put an extra 300 police officers into the district.
THE SERIES
Monday: Otara.
- Veteran youth worker never gives up
- Sport takes sting out of Killer Beez
- Social investment pays off in peace on streets
Tuesday: Ihumatao (Mangere).
- Village blooms as kids steered away from crime
Wednesday: Manurewa/Clendon.
- League building girls' trust
Thursday: Kawerau.
- Fighting for a better future
Friday: Kaiti (Gisborne).
- Growing sense of pride erodes mob's influence
