A police intelligence report reveals young offenders in New Zealand are forming youth gangs within Oranga Tamariki facilities, with cultural and community factors driving recruitment.
The report, Youth Recruitment into Gangs, highlights that some young Kiwis know more about Los Angeles gang culture than their own heritage and identifies practices like urban dirt biking in South Auckland as linked to gang activities.
The report shows Auckland has 20-30 active youth gangs at any time, with young offenders in Oranga Tamariki facilities at greater risk of gang exposure. It cites incidents where customs, particularly within the Tongan community, have been exploited by adult gangs to lure youths into debt.
Senior Sergeant Craig Clark said that there is a need for proactive intervention, which includes redirecting gang-affected youths towards sports teams and pro-social activities.
Police also linked dirt biking to gang operations, describing it as a “dial-a-tinnie” drug courier service run by groups like the Killer Beez. Despite suppression efforts in Oranga Tamariki facilities, gang influence continues to persist. A former staffer noted, “With some of them, it was just instilled in them… before they were even born.”
To combat the issue, Counties Manukau Police focus on daily reviews of youth cases and collaborative intervention plans involving families.
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