Six Mongrel Mob members have been convicted after an internal gang feud spilled out into Southland streets with serious assaults and a kidnapping.
A detailed investigation by Southland police delved into a series of violent offending that began in late January 2022.
Inspector Mike Bowman said this first incident spurred further offences in the form of drive-by shootings, and violent assaults which left people with critical injuries.
Among the incidents were a drive-by shooting in Centre St, Invercargill in January 2022; attacks in February and in April last year, resulting in seriously injured people being dropped off at Gore Hospital; and a drive-by shooting in Elizabeth St, Invercargill in June 2022.
The end of the operation in June 2023 led to 21 people being put before the courts on a range of charges.
By July 1, 2025, six defendants went on trial in Christchurch on a total of 12 charges. This included wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, kidnapping, and injuring with intent to injure.
Bowman said he was “incredibly pleased that the thorough investigation by our staff has resulted in convictions in court, meaning those responsible for this offending will be held to account”.
“The victims of these assaults were members of the Mongrel Mob and, in most cases, were uncooperative with police,” Inspector Bowman says.
“This was a very complex, difficult, investigation and the prosecution of this group has been one of the more challenging cases for Southland police in recent times.
“This investigation is testament to the fact that everyone can expect to be held to account for violent offending, no matter who you are or who the victims are.”
Bowman added Southland police were also very proud of the work done within the community before, during, and after the investigation, dubbed Operation Pakari.
“Our role at the time of these arrests was to help ensure that whānau and household members directly impacted by the arrests were well-supported.
“This involved working alongside our partner agencies to provide them the ongoing support they needed, and to help ensure any further harm and offending was minimised.”
Police said work was continuing with a resilience to organised crime in communities programme, which was launched in Southland in 2023.
The programme brought agencies together including mana whenua, NGO providers, community representatives, police, and those with lived experience of harm from organised crime.
“Other matters in relation to this operation are still before the courts,” police said.
