The owner of a warehouse in Whangarei being used as a headquarters for an Australian-based biker gang has said he had no idea he was letting the building to the group.
The Rebels gang moved into Whangarei at Easter, setting up a club in Porowini Avenue.
Building owner Noel Dyer says he was approached by two polite, clean-cut young men who told him they wanted to set up a gym in his empty warehouse.
He says there was no mention of the Rebels, and he agreed to let them have the building for three months.
Although Mr Dyer will not say whether he is evicting the Rebels, he does say the matter will be resolved in a couple of days.
A Rebels spokesperson says club members, including former New Zealand Tribesmen, are now drug-free and want to help local youths.
Community urged to stand up to gang
Two Northland Maori Labour representatives say the Whangarei community should tell the Rebels gang to get lost.
Northland MP Kelvin Davis says the Rebels are thugs and the community must not turn a blind eye.
Labour's Whangarei candidate Pat Newman says whanau, hapu and marae need to stand up to the gang.
Mr Newman says Maori must shed the concept of "tatou tatou" when it comes to gangs, because they use tikanga to infiltrate Maori institutions and damage young people.
He says gangs like the Rebels see schools as fertile recruiting grounds, and teachers and parents should be on the alert for any sign of their presence.
