October 11, 2021
Gang rejects COVID scapegoating
The Waikato Mongrel Mob Kingdom says gangs can’t be blamed for the spread of the Delta COVID variant – and it’s backed by former National Party and ACT leader Don Brash.
Dr Brash, who is the treasurer of an education initiative started by the chapter, says gangs are being made the fall guys for something that they have had no control over, and such scaremongering is unhelpful.
Chapter head Sonny Fatupaito says while some members of a Kingdom affiliate in South Auckland got the virus, it had not got into the Waikato gang.
He says the gang is organising a workshop and pop up vaccination clinic at Hopuhopu next weekend, where any concerns by members will be addressed by indigenous health experts Dr Rawiri McKree Jansen and Associate Professor Collin Tukuitonga.
Meanwhile, there has been a strong uptake of vaccines by Māori in the past few days.
Associate Health Minister Peeni Henare says more than 10,000 Māori got jabbed on both Thursday and Friday, and 9,600 on Saturday.
In Tāmaki Makaurau, more than 65 per cent of Māori have had their first dose, up from 52 per cent three weeks ago.
An overnight vaccination clinic in Morrin Road, St Johns backed by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei drew 1100 people.