Originally posted by XanthosNZI had a fair few years in the NZ Police.. There is an organised crime liaison officer in most major centre now. Problems with drug manufacture and distribution have been rife here since the 60's.
I've never heard of any of the gangs it mentions whereas everyone here will know of The Mongrel Mob and Black Power and Highway 66.
Shootings are rare here, so much so that every one will recieve news coverage and yet according to the article drive-by shootings were (are?) occuring all the time.
The media here does indeed play up the gang angle (yo ...[text shortened]... nutes without hearing about "P Gangs corrupting our youth" ) but the reality is far from this.
Xanthos is right though the info you have is exaggerated.
The gangs here are mostly older and wiser (or at least more cunning) these days.
http://www.police.govt.nz/service/cib/organised_crime.html is the blurb in brief with a contact email..
If you wanted to know more they will be surprisingly open if you ask.