The Porirua Mongrel Mob Gang. Some things dont change. Porirua from a Samoan perspective in the 1970s. Tim Tufuga

Looks like some things never change.

The Porirua Mongrel Mob Gang are still about and it seems the next generation are thriving. They have now branched into Brisbane, especially at Beenleigh, South of Brisbane.

I was brought up these neighbours as a child. As a Samoan we never associated with them. Samoans, when I was living in Porirua were Christians and never associated with Gangs.

Samoans generally were economic migrants into New Zealand and Porirua City was no exception as a destination for the Samoans and other Pacific Islander Groups. Samoans who live in Porirua, mostly lived in rented housing Commission Housing and most Samoans worked at the local Car manufacturing plant at Elsdon, then known as Todd Motors. This plant became known as Mitsubishi Motors. In the early 1980s, the car manufacturing industry of New Zealand shutdown, Todd Motors which was to become Mitsubishi Motors also shutdown during the economic downturn in New Zealand. Many Samoans moved out of Porirua, those who remained tried to find employment elsewhere, or simply lived on the New Zealand Welfare system, and then some Samoans simply had migrated to Australia.

During the 1970s, at the Bottom Tavern and the Top Tavern, the Mongrel Mob controlled all the Pub scene.

The Once were Warriors movie scene in Porirua is REAL. I know, because I lived next door to these people. Rough, violent and even racist against Palagi and Samoans alike.

In the mid 1970s, the Samoans woud drink on their own, and often the Samoans and the Mongrel Mob clashed at the Bottom Tavern and the Top Tavern. This was very interesting, since Samoans never formed gangs. Then in the late 1970s, the Samoans were fed up with being ganged up in Pub fights against the Mongrel Mob. It ended up being very violent. The Samoans then formed the Peace Makers Gang.

The Peace Makers drove in Zephars cars with chains hung on their number plates indicating that they were Samoan patch members....Samoans never wore patched jackets like other New Zealand Gangs back then. Instead, the Samoans drove cars marked with chains on the number plates. They took on the Mongrel Mob at the Pubs. Eventually, the Mongrel Mob quit targetting the Samoans. Samoans were able to stay and drink in the Pubs. Even the Mongral Mob backed down from an all out Race War in Porirua back in the 70s.

Tim Brian Tufuga Tim Brian Tufuga