[unclear: Mongrels]

[unclear: s] the latest addition to the list. Formed in [unclear: es] Bay in 1970. The numbers in this gang [unclear: far] unknown. They were recently brought [unclear: public's] attention when they allegedly [unclear: ted] an outdoor pop concert. It is [unclear: interest-] note that the 'scandal rag', the Truth, [unclear: on] the front page Maori gang [unclear: Upt] Pop Festival. Reading the [unclear: re-0f] the court case in the same newspaper, [unclear: s] such as O'Leary, McDonald, MacIntosh [unclear: opeared]. There seemed to be only one [unclear: Maori] mentioned. Interesting?

[unclear: Thing] that comes to notice on examination [unclear: of] gangs is that they consist all nationalities [unclear: ic)]. You very rarely see Europeans in [unclear: the.] One in the Storm troopers and no more [unclear: cen] in the others combined. Other gangs [unclear: as] 'Hells Angels' are always dominated by [unclear: eans] and only occasionally do you find a [unclear: number] of Polynesians in a 'European gang'

[unclear: reasons] I found for the forming of such are:

[unclear: ck] of social and recreational facilities, [unclear: ompanionship]

[unclear: rotection]

[unclear: And] I feel this is the most important reason, [unclear: which] is to establish an identity.

In fact he knows nothing about what he is supposed to be, except the Maori values. His parents say to him, "we won't teach you our language because the pakeha will punish you if you speak it at school. We won't teach you the Maori culture because all you have to do is look in a souvenir shop. We won't tell you who your ancestors are because they will only tell you that they were bad just like they have done in school history books. You will have to learn from the pakeha because this country is run for the pakeha by the pakeha!"

So the young Maori goes out to learn from the pakeha, but only finds that the pakeha rejects him because he is a Maori!

He meets other people who are in a similar situation, i.e. no identity, and eventually finds a substitute identity, be it Stormtrooper, Nig, Spade or what-have-you. Not only does he have an identity, but he also has security.

This is not the Maori parents' fault entirely. Over the past century the pakeha has been attempting to assimilate the Maori into the European race, but obviously they have failed to a certain extent. What they succeeded in doing is - throwing the younger Maori generation into an absolute state of confusion. This generation is the [unclear: procducts] of a plan to assimilate the Maori which has failed and has left devastating scars relating to the younger generation. Solution? I think that is up to you individually.

Education:

This is where something should be done. At present, the educational system is geared to turning out brown-skinned New Zealanders. To give young Maoris the identity that is rightfully theirs, this is the place to start. Firstly, I think that the Maori language and aspects of the Maori culture should be made available in all schools. This I feel will lead to a far more meaningful concept of integration.