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Source: ONE News -
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Wanganui's new law to ban gang patches was challenged for the first time on Friday by the Hells Angels.
The motorcycle group claims it is not a gang and members should be able to wear their patches.
"We are entitled to expect that the council makes its decisions based on the merits rather than the animosity towards us, that is our right," says Hells Angels Wanganui president Wayne Tweeddale.
There was heated confrontation between Tweeddale and Wanganui mayor Michael Laws at the hearing, with Tweeddale walking out at one point.
The government passed a law earlier this year enabling the Wanganui District Council to ban gang patches.
Under the by-law, people wearing a patch in Wanganui could be fined $2,000 and have the patch confiscated.
"Parliament passed this legislation, it determined the Hells Angels were a criminal gang," Laws says.
Hells Angels lawyer Steven Rollo says the club may not have a good reputation in Wanganui or throughout the country, but he says that is not the issue. He says the council must prove a link between gang colours and crime.
"We want to see that the council has got suffcient information to establish that removal of clothing will reduce that offending," says Rollo.
Hells Angels is seeking more information from the council and police before it will be forced to relinquish its patch in September when the by-law comes into force.
