The Mongrel Mob sometimes self-labelled as the Mighty Mongrel Mob , an organised street gang based in New Zealand , has a network of more than thirty chapters throughout the country.
The gang began with a group of mainly European youths from Wellington and Hawke's Bay in the s. Legend within the gang holds that the name originated from the comments of a judge in the Hastings District Court, who referred to a group of men before him as " mongrels ".
By the late s loose groups of rebellious young men in Wellington and Hawke's Bay were calling themselves Mongrels. Members consider Hastings in Hawke's Bay to be the gang's "Fatherland" or birthplace, and the gang first became known for its violence in Hawke's Bay. In the s and s, the Mongrel Mob began expanding into parts of Australia. According to Te Ara , in there were over 30 recognised chapters of the Mongrel Mob; [7] including,. Mongrel Mob colours are predominantly red and black. The patches usually feature a British Bulldog wearing a German Stahlhelm , which supposedly is an image intended to offend as it is a British Bulldog wearing the helmet.
The patch is worn on the back of "patched members": those considered 'loyal' and 'trustworthy' enough to be in the gang. The patch will also be tattooed on the member's body. Mob members are known for their tattooed faces and red bandannas. The gang claims it offers a surrogate 'family' for young men, most of whom are often alienated from their family via joining.
A "prospect" is a person who is loyal to the gang but is not a "patched member" yet and must normally do errands or "missions" to show his loyalty to his gang. A "prospect" normally has a "patched member" to report or " clock in " to. This "patched member" normally decides when it is time for the "prospect" to be "patched". The hierarchy is: captain or president, vice president, sergeant at arms, patched members, prospects. In some cases they use younger blood gangs as prospects.
