Listen Now: 
The Black Power member barred from voluntary work in prisons says he hasn’t renounced the gang because everyone knows that’s where he comes from.
Corrections is defending its decision to stand down Ngapari Nui as a kaiwhakamana because it says it just discovered that he is a patched member.
Mr Nui says his work in the prisons was about connecting inmates with their whanau and hapu and helping them change their ways, rather than anything to do with gangs.
He looked at whether he should continue to hold a patch when he was elected to chair south Taranaki iwi Ngati Ruanui several years ago, and concluded it was better he remained Black Power.
"I haven’t been 24/7 Black Power for a long time but my role is now as spokesman. When there is mate or there is liaison with police, with the community, they come and see me and I go and talk to them whether it's in Whanganui, whether it's in Taranaki, whether it's in Poneke, and that's the support I have from all rangatira around the motu," Mr Nui says.
He says he worked with all inmates referred to him, irrespective of whether they affiliated to a gang or not.
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
