Latest News

Displaced Black Power family given home in Mongrel Mob territory post-cyclone

Published

3 years ago

August 30, 2023

A Hawke’s Bay woman whose family lost everything in the cyclone says they are one of the lucky ones, offered a new home by the government’s temporary accommodation service.

But it came with a catch – her Black Power family was put right in the middle of Mongrel Mob territory.

Maia (not her real name) and her family of five lost their home when the Tūtaekurī River burst its banks during Cyclone Gabrielle.

They escaped with their two dogs and not much else.

The temporary accommodation service (TAS), run by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, was recommended to anyone struggling to find a place to stay, for a few days or a few months, because of the flooding.

But there is a shortage of places available, and larger families or those with higher needs are often compromised.

At the moment, there are 145 TAS homes – which could be whole houses, cabins or motel rooms – in Hawke’s Bay, down from 163 in July. There are 48 families on the wait list, a slight decrease from 59 in July, and a predicted future need of 90.

Maia’s family were placed separately – herself with the dogs and one of her children, and her partner with the other two kids.

“They put him and two of my kids right in the middle of Napier, in the middle of the Mongrel Mob.”

They might have flown under the radar but anonymity went quickly out the window.

“Because we had lost all our vehicles, we had to borrow one of the Black Power members’ trucks, and the only truck that was available to us was the president of the Black Powers’.”

Not the kind of question you put on a form

TAS head Fadia Mudafar said gang connection was not the kind of question you put on a form.

“We can’t ask that question, if they are gang affiliated or not, because that would be quite offensive for some people,” she said.

Mudafar said if people offered up that information and made it clear where they did not want to be, TAS would “definitely try and avoid it, because we obviously want to make sure that people are safe”.

Maia said the situation had caused some run-ins.

“It started with our kids. They were playing outside where the cars park, singing a Black Power song, next minute the kids in the next motel start calling them [racial slurs].”

It was a time of high tension between the gangs, with shootings increasing and tempers flaring in the streets.

“I kept taking them away during the day, so anytime they were awake I didn’t want to keep them there because I knew, they will say something wrong and the opposite gang will take offence.”

Out and about, she faced backlash herself.

“They’d try and stop us, block us with their cars, and I’d just drive around them, because I knew exactly what they were trying to do,” Maia said.

“They were just trying to stop us, and see who was in the truck, throw things at us, and I’d just carry on. I just ignored it, I chose to turn the other cheek for the safety of myself and my children.”

But eventually, she reached her limit.

“I didn’t want my family to be targeted because we’re from the other side, and we’ve just been lumped in the middle of them and have no say.”

She called TAS and explained the situation and the family were moved to Taradale, out of Mongrel Mob territory.

But after a short time Maia said that house was pulled out from under them – she was not sure why – and they were offered a place back in Napier where dogs were not allowed.

TAS was not able to comment on this particular case for privacy reasons.

Now, Maia has opted out of the system – she did not want to live away from her family and did not want to give up the dogs, so she was living between her car and friends’ couches.

“I stay with the dogs, and I come back to help him with getting the kids to school, and then when they get home, I help them [with] homework, right up until they go to bed.”

It was now more than six months post-cyclone. Maia said the family was making it work, but the kids could not play outside, and the streets still felt unsafe.

She said her family was one of the lucky ones to be housed at all.

Some people might ask – why keep the dogs? Maia said it was a non-negotiable.

“We lost everything, there’s nothing else. And to give [the dogs] away… we were like, bro, those are the only things that came out of the flood with us.”

Their Waiohiki home had been deemed category 2C, meaning better flood protection was needed for the land to be safe to live on.

Maia said the children were still confused about why they could not go home.

“I’ve tried telling them – it’s dirty, we can’t go back. [They say] ‘We’ve got a vacuum, we can clean it up’.”

But the cleanup would take more than a vacuum – and at the moment, she said, they would just have to keep winging it.

VIA RNZ

Latest News

Police say person who fired gun at officers still at large

Published

2 days ago

November 12, 2026

News Staff

Police say a person who fired a gun at officers in Napier is still at large.

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Joel Lamb said Police tried to stop a vehicle in the Pirimai Area at about 10pm on Tuesday.

He said someone in the back seat pointed what was presumed to be a firearm at officers pursuing the vehicle.

“Staff have then heard two distinct gunshots as the firearm was discharged.

“Fortunately, neither of our officers were injured, and the patrol vehicle did not sustain any damage.”

He said hours later, the vehicle was seen travelling north on the Waikato Expressway towards Auckland.

Police seized the vehicle at an address in Manurewa, but they had not found the alleged offender.

Lamb said people who lived at the Manurewa address were engaging with Police.

He said Eastern District and Counties Manukau Police were making enquiries.

“Presenting a firearm at a Police officer is a serious escalation that puts our staff and the wider community at risk. This behaviour is entirely unacceptable.

“We are taking this incident extremely seriously and will be pursuing all lines of enquiry to locate the offender and hold them accountable.”

Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Police on 105 or online using the reference number 261111/3764.

Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

rnz

Latest News

New Zealand sides named for RLWC finals

Published

3 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The players tasked with ending Australia’s Rugby League World Cup dominance have been named.

The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns have announced their squads for this Sunday’s World Cup finals in Brisbane.

Both sides are chasing their first titles since 2008, and both are looking to end their opponents run of three crowns in a row.

“Our Kiwi Ferns have been so dominant in years gone by, and we want to bring dominance back to this jersey, so I think it will be a case of who wants it more,” said co-captain Georgia Hale of the impending clash.

The Kiwis get a major boost for the final as they welcome back Ronaldo Mulitalo after he served a one-match ban for a high tackle against Fiji Bati.

Mulitalo replaces Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who moves to the six-man bench, which again includes utility Te Maire Martin, middle forwards Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark and Xavier Willison plus fullback Keano Kini.

Loose forward Joseph Tapine will make his 30th Test appearance in a familiar pack again, including second-rowers Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora, and props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.

Winger Jamayne Isaako is on the cusp of claiming the New Zealand record for most Test points.

His five goals against Tonga lifted his career points tally to 225 – level with Shaun Johnson – while centre Casey McLean goes into the final with 16 tries in just eight Tests.

Fisher-Harris will again captain the team.

Fullback Ponga said the goal of the group was clear.

“We have high expectations around what we want to achieve, and obviously winning a world Cup is one of them.”

Meanwhile, Ricky Henry has selected a settled side to take on the Jillaroos, led by their lethal centre combination of Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga.

Veteran Apii Nicholls takes the number one jersey, Leianne Tufuga and Mackenzie Wiki on the wings.

Henry has stuck with his halves pairing of Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Raecene McGregor with Alexis Tauaneai, Georgia Hale and Otesa Pule up front.

Rounding out the starting pack is Shaniece Monschau, Kaiyah Atai, and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

“We have been building well throughout the tournament; we understand the Jillaroos side, and will give it our all to make New Zealand proud this weekend,” said Henry.

RLWC Finals:

Kiwi Ferns vs Jillaroos- 6.10pm

Kiwis vs Kangaroos – 9.35pm

Sunday November 15

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Live blog updates on RNZ

Kiwi Ferns:

1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Stacey Waaka 5. Mackenzie Wiki 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Alexis Tauaneai 9. Georgia Hale 10. Otesa Pule 11. Shaniece Monschau 12. Kaiyah Atai 13. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

Interchange: 14. Ashleigh Quinlan 15. Annessa Biddle 16. Shannon Mato 17. Ivana Lauitiiti.

Reserves: 18. Brooke Anderson 19. Zahara Temara 20. Brianna Clark 21. Abigail Roache 22. Tenika Willison.

Kiwis:

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Briton Nikora, 13. Joseph Tapine (v/c).

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison.

Reserves: 18. Keano Kini, 19. Phoenix Crossland, 20. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 21. Scott Sorensen, 22. Leo Thompson.

rnz

Latest News

Parliamentary Service working on extra chairs and offices for increased number of MPs

Published

3 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.

On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.

Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.

In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.

“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.

“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”

Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Service Rafael Gonzalez-Montero appears before select committee. — Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero.

VNP / Phil Smith

Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.

That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.

“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.

Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.

Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.

The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.

Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.

Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.

“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”

Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.

rnz