The Mongrel Mob - an inside look at one of the worlds most dangerous bikie gangs

Inherently intimidating, the members of this gang deliver human death as part of obtaining membership and for a very long time, it's membership has shunned social norms.

Recently, NZ photographer Jono Rotman got a pass to shoot some images of a few members.

Rotman made it clear he wanted to focus on art, rather than exposing the gang - and in turn they granted him unprecedented access to their inner workings.
‘Gangs represent a certain set of human drives taken to an extreme. This is what I wanted to explore,’ Rotman said.
An exhibition of the portraits sparked outcry earlier this year after including a portrait of murderer Shane Harrison which was exhibited in his victim's hometown.
‘The work is not about who did what or what happened,' Rotman said. 'This is about a particular part of the country and history of the country I was interested in as a project, not about a stereotype but about these particular people.’

The Notorious Mongrel Mob

Those dudes have the look of death in their eyes.

I saw this the other day somewhere and I was looking at these pics thinking, "damn this is why I live honestly".

These guys look like something you'd find in Mad Max, especially the first guy. Scary looking jokers.

a reply to: Sublimecraft

Man some Kiwi's are rough mutha's...those guys look are certainly upholding the image,after i watched the movie "once were warriors" i figured i never want to make one of these guys angry......

In saying that most of the NZ natives i have had the pleasure of meeting have been great blokes.....

I had never heard of this particular gang,thanks for bringing it to my attention....

The 1%'ers give a HORRIBLE name to biker gangs. These guys are obviously 1%'ers.

They really deviate from the principals these gangs practice, that is if you have any insider view of them at all. The 1%'ers remain friends for when certain activities need to be done, that is all.

a reply to: Sublimecraft

bad bad memories.. I knew a few mongrel mob bikers here in West Aus, years ago. I knew too many kiwi crims lol :/ black power were just as messed up, walk into a house and see dudes smothered in moko and giving this pakeha the side eye .. yeah, it put hairs on your chest, but I do not miss those days.

But you always have to have one giggle hey? Poor stupid wannabe hardcore fruitloop thug, couldn't make it as a true hardcore patched biker, but still went full gobbo with an engine tattooed on his face, along with a few choice expletives...

he deserved the nickname cartoon head.

and he was the only bugger to pull a gun on me too. I dont miss those days.

Those pictures.. they could be artistic renditions or even game characters.

Makes me wanna watch once were warriors and what becomes of the broken hearted, again.

I wish I could get a pic of a guy I know, locally he's probably well known but not for any good reasons lol.. but known him most of my life, the only white guy with a moko here, cops it from unknown Maori blokes, but his story is his...

A little slice of Perth goes away when he does...

powerful video too, in ways...

and thats enough internet for me today, when a dude with words on his forehead makes it to be a real human, and I still flail like a newborn lost...

I alllmost made it too.. god bloody damn it. almost..

ugh the sword of my own misery begs me to fall on it once more... sometimes I wish mark had pulled the trigger.

a reply to: Sublimecraft

Not all mongrel mob are the same.

Like any group of humans, there is a spectrum of personalities.

Generally, people form these groups out of a need for belonging.

Also, the facial tattoos (Tā moko) have cultural and tribal significance outside of the gangs.

a reply to: chr0naut

Oo

On the scale from bashing to murder, I rate them pretty much on the scale.

it's sort of how the ethos is. you know, they is not handing out teddy bears on fathers day... oO

New Zealand is famous for its Gang Culture. This site has some good history for anyone interested.

www.teara.govt.nz...

i lived in NZ for 8 years. i met my wife there too. I met ALOT of biker gang members. including Mogrel Mob, Black Power, Filthy Few, White Power the list goes on. They keep themselves to them selves and each town has a Gang territory. Tauranga were i lived had a Filthy Few HQ. the trouble starts when another gang steps onto anothers "turf" there is very few gang to civilian crime nowadays. its mainly gang to gang crime. BUT i could be wrong thats my experience anyways

originally posted by: Sublimecraft
Inherently intimidating, the members of this gang deliver human death as part of obtaining membership and for a very long time, it's membership has shunned social norms.

...I found this weird, that you have avatar made of one of their member's pic.
Now I understand this...but...damn.

a reply to: Sublimecraft

I knew I'd seen your new avvy somewhere before although I'm screw-faced at the idea that it was in the Daily Mail lol.

Gang-related stuff is interesting from a cultural perspective and God knows it'd be less interesting to deal with these fellas in real life. Yeah I know they only present a risk to rivals and so on. They (gangs in general) still visit a high level of violence on innocent bystanders and people trying to run an honest business through protection schemes and extortion.

Just last week I had a small binge of YT gangster docos. The worst bunch of all of them are the 'Numbers' in South African prisons. Jeez. They take it to a level that renders their whole culture something hellish to the rest of the world.

'There was always an unspoken understanding that if I crossed them they would kill me.’

That journalist must have balls.

Never judge a man by his colours. ?

a reply to: SGTkilt

Yeah I live in NZ. We have two different gangs in my town. A few of them look just like the pics in the op. Although there is trouble sometimes it it always between the gangs or the police and gangs. I would not think twice about walking past them in the street, but going to one of their party's I don't think I'd be leaving in one piece.
Funny story, I was in parking lot with kids in car. Van pulls up beside us. We were getting out and kid in back seat as opening the doors slams it into the van. I get out to see any damage and say sorry. Out of the van came about ten black power members looking just like in the pics. My face fell Andi felt like this was going to be the end. They must have seen my face and smelt the fear because they all started laughing and said "sweet as bro" and walked away.

I live in NZ and tattooed shane while in Mt Eden jail some 20 years ago,he was a nice guy from what I remember,his nickname was ford,cause the mob loves fords.They arent really a bikie gang to be honest,yes they own bikes but you very rarely see them riding around,they started as a street gang,and most still are.
Theres a few different factions of mobsters....theres the "rouge'......and "notorious" and the run of the mill mobsters.

Thanks everyone for the input. here is a little about myself to put this into perspective.

I was born in Auckland (Takapuna) in the very early 70's and we migrated to far North QLD, Aust mid 70's and I have been here ever since.

7 years ago, I found out that my father was actually adopted and through that event it was determined that I am 6th generation descendant from the royal bloodline of the Ngai Tahu tribe through a bloke by the surname of Beaumont (a whaling Captain), who married one of the Chiefs daughters back in the mid 1800's.

Anyway, I had the pleasure of staying New Plymouth last year for about 3 months and had the opportunity to revisit my roots.

A history I am very much proud of and honoured to be a part of.

a reply to: Sublimecraft

Whaaaaat?