![]() Tribesmen MC Logo with Life Member Rocker | |
Founded | 1980 [1] |
---|---|
Founding location | Murupara [1] |
Years active | 1980–present |
Territory | Ōtara, Northland, Rotorua, Murupara, Christchurch, Queenstown |
Ethnicity | Māori |
Criminal activities | Drug dealing, assault |
Allies | Bad Troublesome Ward, New Zealand Nomads, Black Power |
Rivals | Mongrel Mob, Hells Angels |
The Tribesmen are a prominent outlaw motorcycle club based in the North Island of New Zealand. They have a relatively large presence, having set up chapters in Ōtara, Northland, Rotorua, Murupara and Christchurch. [2] [3]
There were 108 members imprisoned in 2015. [4]
As of 2020 [update] the Tribesmen MC are considered the dominant organisation in the gang scene in Christchurch. [5]
The Tribesmen Motorcycle Club was formed in 1980 in the Bay of Plenty township of Murupara. [1] They have chapters nationwide and are easily recognised by their yellow colours and middle finger salute. The Tribesmen former feeder gang the Killer Beez, also wear yellow as a visual representation of their identity and acknowledge each other with the middle finger salute. [6] [7]
The Tribesmen MC were one of the first organised groups to import manufacture methamphetamine in New Zealand; however, the group lost their high standing among the organised groups in New Zealand due to their overindulgence in their own product. Due to this, they lost all respect from their peers, and therefore all power they held, eventually becoming known as the "Friedmen" among New Zealand organised crime syndicates. [8]
In 2011, the newly established Rebels Motorcycle Club New Zealand Chapter voiced its intentions to "patch over" the Tribesmen Motorcycle Club. [9] It is unknown how many Tribesmen members "patched over" to the Rebels; however, the Rebels used familial links to attempt to persuade Tribesmen members to join over to the Rebels. [8] Peter Hunt, President of the Tribesmen in Murupara responded to these claims by stating that there was no mass "patching over" and that its simply a few Tribesmen members who have strong familial links to Rebels members in Australia making the change over. [8]
During the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, the New Zealand Police used the lockdown periods in New Zealand to undertake investigations and to target the organised crime syndicates in New Zealand. During these investigations, the Tribesmen MC were among the groups targeted and raided. During the period, the New Zealand Police executed 100 search warrants which led to the seizure of 43 firearms, 25 kilograms of methamphetamine, more than 30 kilograms of marijuana, and smaller amounts of various other illicit substances. The police did not specify if any items were seized by any specific groups. [10]
The Killer Beez were founded in 2003 by then-Vice President of the Tribesmen New Zealand, Josh Masters, as a feeder gang for the Tribesmen. The main purpose of the Killer Beez was to build soldiers for the Tribesmen Motorcycle Club. Most Killer Beez would eventually become fully fledged members of the Tribesmen ranks.
The relationship between Tribesmen and Killer Beez deteriorated in 2019 with the shooting of Killer Beez president Josh Masters, and resulted in multiple outbreaks of gunfire in Auckland and Kaitaia in 2022. [11]
![]() Tribesmen MC Logo with Life Member Rocker | |
Founded | 1980 [1] |
---|---|
Founding location | Murupara [1] |
Years active | 1980–present |
Territory | Ōtara, Northland, Rotorua, Murupara, Christchurch, Queenstown |
Ethnicity | Māori |
Criminal activities | Drug dealing, assault |
Allies | Bad Troublesome Ward, New Zealand Nomads, Black Power |
Rivals | Mongrel Mob, Hells Angels |
The Tribesmen are a prominent outlaw motorcycle club based in the North Island of New Zealand. They have a relatively large presence, having set up chapters in Ōtara, Northland, Rotorua, Murupara and Christchurch. [2] [3]
There were 108 members imprisoned in 2015. [4]
As of 2020 [update] the Tribesmen MC are considered the dominant organisation in the gang scene in Christchurch. [5]
The Tribesmen Motorcycle Club was formed in 1980 in the Bay of Plenty township of Murupara. [1] They have chapters nationwide and are easily recognised by their yellow colours and middle finger salute. The Tribesmen former feeder gang the Killer Beez, also wear yellow as a visual representation of their identity and acknowledge each other with the middle finger salute. [6] [7]
The Tribesmen MC were one of the first organised groups to import manufacture methamphetamine in New Zealand; however, the group lost their high standing among the organised groups in New Zealand due to their overindulgence in their own product. Due to this, they lost all respect from their peers, and therefore all power they held, eventually becoming known as the "Friedmen" among New Zealand organised crime syndicates. [8]
In 2011, the newly established Rebels Motorcycle Club New Zealand Chapter voiced its intentions to "patch over" the Tribesmen Motorcycle Club. [9] It is unknown how many Tribesmen members "patched over" to the Rebels; however, the Rebels used familial links to attempt to persuade Tribesmen members to join over to the Rebels. [8] Peter Hunt, President of the Tribesmen in Murupara responded to these claims by stating that there was no mass "patching over" and that its simply a few Tribesmen members who have strong familial links to Rebels members in Australia making the change over. [8]
During the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, the New Zealand Police used the lockdown periods in New Zealand to undertake investigations and to target the organised crime syndicates in New Zealand. During these investigations, the Tribesmen MC were among the groups targeted and raided. During the period, the New Zealand Police executed 100 search warrants which led to the seizure of 43 firearms, 25 kilograms of methamphetamine, more than 30 kilograms of marijuana, and smaller amounts of various other illicit substances. The police did not specify if any items were seized by any specific groups. [10]
The Killer Beez were founded in 2003 by then-Vice President of the Tribesmen New Zealand, Josh Masters, as a feeder gang for the Tribesmen. The main purpose of the Killer Beez was to build soldiers for the Tribesmen Motorcycle Club. Most Killer Beez would eventually become fully fledged members of the Tribesmen ranks.
The relationship between Tribesmen and Killer Beez deteriorated in 2019 with the shooting of Killer Beez president Josh Masters, and resulted in multiple outbreaks of gunfire in Auckland and Kaitaia in 2022. [11]