Mob’s patches altered before grant—Minister

Press, 4 February 1987, Page 3

Mob’s patches altered before grant —Minister

Dunedin Mongrel Mob patches had been altered before the Maori Affairs Department made a grant to the group, according to the Minister of Maori Affairs, Mr Wetere. An application for funds from the Mob, which is also known as the Ngati Kuri Mahi Trust, included a request for funds to change the wording on its patches. This request was refused and the grant was paid after the patches had been changed from “Mongrel Mob South Island” to “Mongrel Mob Dunedin,” said Mr Wetere. Reports that $2OO had been granted were wrong, he said. Only $lOO was granted for the gang to show its appreciation at a hui last June to elders, politicians, and other people who had helped them. “I regret very much that the police report on this matter is not correct, and that such a small matter has become major headlines,” said Mr Wetere. At the hui it was hoped

to demonstrate how successful work trusts, could be, he said. ' '""The grant of,'sloo Was\ ' given last year as an encouragement to the ' trust in what it was trying to do.”