Members of the Mongrel Mob performed a haka in council chambers to celebrate a decision to keep Māori wards. (File image) Photo: Supplied
It is not clear whether allowing patched gang members to attend a local council meeting broke the law, the council's chair says.
During the Hawke's Bay Regional Council meeting on Wednesday, the members voted unanimously to keep Māori wards.
Photographs have since emerged showing patched Mongrel Mob members in council chambers performing a haka, celebrating the decision.
A law banning gang patches in public is on its way, but is not yet in force.
But another law has banned gang insignia in government premises - which includes local government - since 2013. Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has told media he expected that to be enforced.
The law - called the Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Act 2013 - states "government premises" means "the whole or part of any structure (including any associated grounds) that is owned by, or is under the control of, (i) the Crown, acting through a department, the Police, or a Crown entity; or (ii) a local authority".
The regional council's chair Hinewai Ormsby said she did not know whether the law applied to the Hawke's Bay Regional Council building.
"We have no policy on that matter," she said.
"Amongst city and district councils, their public facilities definitely cover no gang insignia, so I can understand it applying there.
"In terms of regional council buildings, which are regional council assets, we have no policy for that."
But the council would consider creating one, as well as investigate whether or not the law applied to the regional council's offices, Ormsby said.
It would also kōrero with local gang leaders to discuss leaving their patches "in the car", she said.
There were no problems with the gang members' behaviour, and they enjoyed engaging with local government, she said.
"They were there to support the matter of the day, it was a well-run meeting, a good result, and there were no issues, in the end it was celebration for everyone that was there."
