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Staring death in the face: (incredible potrait photos of New Zealand gang members)
Daily Mail (Australia/UK) ^
| 12th June 2015
| Nelson Groom
Posted on 06/11/2015 7:33:36 PM PDT by naturalman1975
It is New Zealand's most notorious gang whose members operate in a criminal world of violence that is usually shut off to the outside world.
But one photographer managed to gain their trust - and in turn rare access - resulting in haunting images of some of the key members of the Mighty Mongrel Mob.
Wellington-born Jono Rotman has spent nearly eight years, from 2007, embedded with the Mob, gaining a unique glimpse of their culture, customs and even a bloody clash with rival group the Black Power.
Like most gangs, the Mob, who formed in Wellington and Hawkes Bay in the 1960s, have a stringent code against outsiders, preferring to operate in the shadows. And it's this that makes the chilling images that much more spectacular.
Rotman, who captured images of the gang's key members including convicted killer Shane Harrison, Bung Eye, Greco and Toots, told Daily Mail Australia he began earning their trust while photographing New Zealand's prisons.
I spoke with a gang liaison officer who gave me a contact of someone who bridged the divide between gang and civilian life. Things evolved from there, he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: gangs; newzealand
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Full headline:
Staring death in the face: Haunting portraits of Mighty Mongrel Mob gang members by photographer who spent eight years gaining their trust - and access to their ultra-violent world
They're a weird mob.
I knew very little about them - Wikipedia (which, of course is not always reliable):
There were 934 members in prison in April 2013, making up more than a tenth of all New Zealand prisoners.
To: naturalman1975
They are mongrels in more ways than one. They are not typical Anglo New Zealand types.
2
posted on
06/11/2015 7:36:47 PM PDT
by
Monterrosa-24
(...even more American than a French bikini and a Russian AK-47.)
To: naturalman1975
3
posted on
06/11/2015 7:38:41 PM PDT
by
SandRat
(Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
To: naturalman1975
Most of them look like Maori. You do not mess with Polysnesians. You take on one, he will come after you with his whole extended family. Very, very quick to anger.
To: naturalman1975
5
posted on
06/11/2015 7:39:56 PM PDT
by
BenLurkin
(The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
To: naturalman1975
My limited experiences in New Zealand feature memories of beautiful pastures...the windiness of Wellington....lots,and lots,and *lots* of sheep...and the stench that is Roturua.
Psychopath gangs are the *last* thing I'd expect to see *there*.
To: Gay State Conservative
See the 1994 movie “Once Were Warriors” about the Maori gangs.
7
posted on
06/11/2015 7:42:52 PM PDT
by
Publius
("Who is John Galt?" by Billthedrill and Publius now available at Amazon.)
To: doorgunner69
Descendants of cannibals?
8
posted on
06/11/2015 7:42:56 PM PDT
by
Rebelbase
To: doorgunner69; Monterrosa-24
There are some damned fine Maori warriors.
This is one of them.
The people in these photos look like thugs. I'm intrigued by them but I hope there are more like this bloke than that lot.
9
posted on
06/11/2015 7:43:07 PM PDT
by
naturalman1975
("America was under attack. Australia was immediately there to help." - John Winston Howard)
To: naturalman1975
The tats remind me of the Maori.
10
posted on
06/11/2015 7:44:49 PM PDT
by
RushIsMyTeddyBear
(The White House is now known as "Casa Blanca".)
To: Monterrosa-24
For a better understanding of the Maori culture...watch the “Whale Rider” ...and.... “Once Were Warriors” films
To: naturalman1975
They’re using the Swastika and Nazi images as a symbol of rebellion. Morons. Those symbols mean anything but.
12
posted on
06/11/2015 7:47:53 PM PDT
by
IYAS9YAS
(Has anyone seen my tagline? It was here yesterday. I seem to have misplaced it.)
To: naturalman1975
13
posted on
06/11/2015 7:51:20 PM PDT
by
Incorrigible
(If I lead, follow me; If I pause, push me; If I retreat, kill me.)
To: naturalman1975
I gotta get me some face tats. They are so cool!
14
posted on
06/11/2015 7:51:33 PM PDT
by
Veggie Todd
(The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. TJ)
To: IYAS9YAS
When I see someone sporting SS stuff, I have their measure.
15
posted on
06/11/2015 7:51:38 PM PDT
by
rlmorel
("National success by the Democratic Party equals irretrievable ruin." Ulysses S. Grant.)
To: naturalman1975; Tennessee Nana
DAMN!
Those guys are hard core!
16
posted on
06/11/2015 7:52:43 PM PDT
by
KC_Lion
(PLEASE SUPPORT FR. Donate Monthly or Join Club 300! G-d bless you all!)
To: Gay State Conservative
Wiki says they’re aligned with the bloods against the crips and others.
Never really thought about that sort of thing in NZ.
17
posted on
06/11/2015 7:53:18 PM PDT
by
cripplecreek
("For by wise guidance you can wage your war")
To: naturalman1975
To comments to the original article, I agree:
They just look like a bunch of middle aged douchebags. If they weren’t in a ‘gang’, anyone would see them for who they really are; losers.
Not really like staring ‘death in the face.’
18
posted on
06/11/2015 7:54:05 PM PDT
by
bakeneko
To: naturalman1975
19
posted on
06/11/2015 7:54:37 PM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(SOME IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED;-{)
To: Veggie Todd; All
Sir Ben Kingsley as Mazer Rackham in Ender's Game (which was abhorrent and shat on the legacy that is Ender's Game).
20
posted on
06/11/2015 7:57:55 PM PDT
by
wastedyears
(Knights of Sidonia)
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