Waikato Mongrel Mob Kingdom – Sonny Fatupaito in response to Simon Bridges
President Waikato Mongrel Mob Kingdom Chapter – Sonny Fatupaito in response to Simon Bridges, Leader of the Opposition – Rebuff of Invitation to Mana Whānau Event
In response to our invitation to the Leader of the Opposition, Simon Bridges to participate in our Mana Whānau Event on Saturday 9 November which he abruptly declined.
Mr Bridges reasons for declining directly stated “as a Crown prosecutor and MP, he had seen first-hand the misery caused by gangs, particularly in their crime and peddling of drugs and violence, not least to women”. We gave Bridges the opportunity to see first-hand the radical changes that are being made in our confederation, we are perplexed as to why he wouldn’t take up this opportunity, as Bridges also stated “I believe people are capable of changing and of redemption, rehabilitation and reintegration. I also believe there will be individual gang members who do good for their whānau and community”, and we view this as a direct contradiction of saying one thing and doing another, hypocrisy in other words, also known as ideological hegemony. Ideological hegemony is a system of thought control, linked to a set of ideas and beliefs that act to uphold and justify an existing or desired arrangement of power, authority, wealth and status in a society.
Mr Bridges ‘dog whistle’ politics are great at playing on people’s fears and anxieties but not so good at solving any problems. He is seeking to blame instead of seeking to understand. Our people are experts on their own conditions, it’s not the same notion as an expert in a western sense where its through education, its through lived experience. What is clear and what politicians need to quickly come to understand, is that we won’t address societal problems unless we understand the political and social drivers that shape our lives and our communities. We understand that the best agents of change are those who have navigated and overcome the many adversities they have endured throughout their lifetimes.
We are the most discriminated, marginalised community of people, last Thursday, Bridges hinted about the contents of a ‘gang plan’, “It’s no secret, we hate gangs, we are thinking about how we can crack down on gangs”, he said. This intended strategy is a policy with the direct intent to further discriminate against our families and loved ones. Not every gang member is a criminal and not every criminal is a gang member yet Bridges approach puts us all into the category that we are all criminals. As I have written, gang’s have their own whakapapa and origins, which are rooted deep within the injustices to Māori by way of imperialism, colonization, assimilation, racism, economic deprivation along with the commodification of our resources and our people. The impact of colonization is now having intergenerational effects, which have torn Whānau, Hapu and Iwi apart.
Bridges ‘tough on crime’ agenda does nothing more than widen the gap between different sectors of society, and Bridges former leader and Prime Minister Bill English, is renowned for announcing his Government’s moral and fiscal failure, Prisons. So too is this narrative surrounding gangs being violent thugs that the government and media would have us believe, we are simply just pawns in their bigger political game.
We look forward to gathering and celebrating with our people and invited dignitaries Dame Tariana Turia, Sir Pita Sharples and Merepeka Raukawa-Tait at our Mana Whānau event. These rangatira have spent the best part of their lives fighting for the equality and wellbeing of our people, and obviously recognise the good works and transformation that is happening within the Waikato Mongrel Mob Kingdom.
PAITO – PRESIDENT
WAIKATO MONGREL MOB KINGDOM
soimon is a plastic Maori who cant even bare to say Kia ora, why cause he is a sanctimonius pompus prick who will never be PM. He is so far up his own backside and very judgemental to boot can he not see these people are trying to change instead of being supportive he throws shit in their face another reason why he is not suited for our PM
Get rid of the patches and all gang memorabilia the history of gang intimidation through drug and alcohol also gang violence involving the public and family members particularly female gender..your past will never be clean or forgotten get rid of the gang memorabilia out of your house your minds and out of your family system and then and only then you will be accepted into the community as a serious voice
In being challenged to respond as a result of the Leader of the Opposition’s inability to be inclusive and dog whistle antics, a gang leader has again demonstrated a degree of intellectual ability that eludes the aspiring PM.
When National were in power they claimed they were going to wage war on the drug P, and the gangs were part of the assault. That was late 2009.
How did that work out.
Like everything they did.
All talk no action. Then they went off to fill their bank accounts and increase their property portfolios
Gangs peddle drugs and kids are their weakest victims. Lots of kids are taking drugs outside city areas and I am told it can stunt brain development. Out of the city, a lot of kids struggle through school. I wonder why… Also, I ride a motorcycle and have been threatened by gang members for no logical reason. As a foreign resident here, I find their open existence ridiculous. I support Mr Bridges 100%.
It is very interesting to read of degrees of change happening within the lifestyles who makeup our communities. And I suggest change is inevitable change is innovation and change is a part of a maturing society. It’s a shame Simon hasn’t yet grown into his leadership shoes, working with change means going to the face of change and getting involved with the communities where it is happening especially if you want to lead the country
I wonder whether Simon is ready to be a leader of this country or, as in this case, savy enough to front up to the challenges that makeup communities, where the real people live. Will Simon go where the relationships that need to be faced up to are, well apparently not. Is he mature enough to have the hard adult conversations in places and spaces with people he has issues with? That would be a no. If this is an indication of his leadership style then National election hopes are off to a sad start. Simon may be best suited for a job where blinkers are in vogue.
Your past history of intimidation violence to public and family members especially female members drug suppliers and so on will never go away due to gang priorities..until there’s a clean out by gang members of all memorabilia out of the home and putting distance between the gangs and your family then and only then your voice my be heard…it may be a hard corner to turn for most patched members but it’s your time to put your family future first
ALL SOME PEOPLE WANT 2 DO IS JUST C THE NEGATIVE AND WANA POINT FINGERS AT PEOPLE WAT.. THE… F##K
GOOD ON THE MONGRELS TRYING 2 MAKE A POSITIVE CHANGE 4 THE NEXT UP AND CUMING WAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH THAT WANTING BETTER 4 THERE FAMILY’S AND YOUNG PEOPLE TRYING 2 GUIDE THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION SHLD BE SUPPORTIVE AND THANKFUL THEY EVEN INVITING U 2 C 1ST HAND BECOZ THERE WAS A TIME THERE WHEN NO OUTSIDER WAS EVEN CONSIDERED SO THAT RIGHT THERE SHLD B SAYING SOMETHING ALSO WHEN U SAY GANGS U MUST B TALKING POLICE FORCE,THE GOVERNMENT, CHURCHES JUST COZ THEY DONT GOT A PATCH DONT MEAN THEY NOT A GANG OR WHAT U GONA TELL ME THAT THEY DONT COMMIT CRIME OR HURT PEOPLE OR EVEN DEAL IN DRUGS FUCK WHATA JOKE F U THINK THAT