Its remarkable that this is the first significant book on the industry. Nearly $20 million flowed into bank accounts linked. He answered: A chance to break the cycle., *CLARIFICATION: An earlier version referred to Lyndon Richardson as a former Head Hunters president. "Smitty, thanks for all the good times and wonderful memories. "[8] Downey later developed a cold after shooting at the location. On one occasion, the detective recalled catching wind that the Head Hunters planned to have a New Year's Eve party in Northland. The initial concept for the film later came about during a writer's retreat, in which the filmmakers had assembled and hosted at Stewart's family home in Soutelo Mourisco, a small village in Northern Portugal. If you have hearing or talking difficulties register for the 111 TXT service. [1][7] From the outset, both Downey and Stewart knew that the film would be low budget, and feature a very small cast, which was all factored into the film's script. The president of the feared Head Hunters needed no introduction. Another firearm seized during a search warrant, Ten 7 Aotearoa help solve serious crimes. Several Auckland detectives were seen around the edge of the crowd. [7], Early on in pre-production of the film, the two filmmakers had decided to shoot the film around Stewart's family home in Soutelo Mourisco, a small village in Northern Portugal, due to the remoteness of its location. While that company remains here, I worry that theres little hope for any of those caught up in the meth river even those who do want help. A "substantial number of cash deposits" were made by Head Hunters members and associates to the charity and labelled as "loans". An accountant with the Serious Audio. [21] It grossed a total of $44,652 in domestic video sales. [16], Official soundtrack for The Head Hunter was composed by Nick Soole, and was later released on CD and Digital download on April 8, 2019. Two years later, Smith took over as president when Wayne Doyle was sent to jail. "He was a lot more level-headed and reasonable when I was dealing with him," said Stokes. Other senior Head Hunters have been jailed in recent years for serious methamphetamine charges, but Doyle - who was jailed for murder in the 1980s - has not been convicted of a serious crime for nearly 20 years. [12][13], While the film was screened at Sitges, and Nightmares Film Festival under the title The Head (the name of the film's main antagonist),[12][11] the title was later changed to The Head Hunter. We aim to have the trust and confidence of all - to achieve this we operate in accordance with our values. MP says the caravan serves as constant reminder of what people have to put up with. (Amended May 24, 2021,1.34pm). Seems unfathomable, doesnt it? "[1], Writer/director Jordan Downey on the inspiration for the film's story, The Head Hunter was produced and directed by Jordan Downey, who also co-wrote the film's script. Initially a tight-knit group of around 30, the Head Hunters have now grown to have an estimated 500 patched members and prospects across the country. She sentenced Richardson to 10 months home detention, saying that imprisonment was not appropriate in his case. One of the men arrested in this week's police raids on the Head Hunters gang and associates can now be named. Its hard for me to imagine that New Zealand, a country regarded as so peaceful its sometimes forgotten and dropped off of maps, could have this underworld of gangs, meth and criminal intelligence. Strickland was sentenced to six months community detention, followed by 12 months supervision. Headhunting in recruitment is about approaching the best people in your industry, be it within New Zealand or internationally. [6] Initially, the film's story was not immediately forthcoming, as Downey later recalled, "We didn't have the idea first, we just had this drive to make a movie [] So we just sat down, to see if we could come up with something that we could shoot for a low budget. Principal photography later began in Bragana, Portugal, while additional scenes were shot in Norway, and Mammoth Lakes, California. With love and respect. Cordons were earlier put in place on Crummer Road and Coleridge Street. The gang recently won an appeal in an ongoing legal battle after the trust was deregistered as a charity. The president of the feared Head Hunters needed no introduction. He confirmed the gang's plans - but said the motley crew of career criminals would travel on a bus and not wear their patches. Savage relays the facts with impartiality and integrity. To some, the 53-year-old was an icon, a mentor, a friend, a brother. [8] Later the recalling the cave's conditions, Downey noted: "It was really crammed, dark and there were spiders and water up to our ankles and knees. #gridsparta #comancheros #comancheronzFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/GridSpartaInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/gridspartaTwitter:https://www.twitter.. [4] The gang had 103 members in prison in 2013. A slew of police officers were called to the Head Hunters MC gang headquarters in Auckland after shots were fired overnight on Sunday. Highway 61 was the largest motorcycle gang in New Zealand in 2010. Throughout he is shown taking the bounty, leaving to hunt down his target, then returning with the target's head which he pins to his wall. She attached several conditions to his sentence including having to complete a drug and alcohol treatment programme, as well as undergo treatment for violent behaviour. Nearly $20 million flowed into bank accounts linked. The gang recently won an appeal in an ongoing legal battle after the trust was deregistered as a charity. The Head Hunters Motorcycle Club are an outlaw motorcycle club in New Zealand. A giant of the criminal world, Dave Smith died this week after suffering the effects of a stroke for several years. He also received a share of any drug debt money collected by his associates. Firearm seized during a search warrant, /* prefer image alt text over title as title field used for caption and can be quite long (REF-483) */ ?> "Similarly, large sums of funds have been paid to Head Hunters members by the That Was Then This is Now Trust," Justice Venning wrote. Take the Australian Comancheros, Savages clearest example of the complex ecosystem of gangs in New Zealand. After a hard battle he finally decapitates the monster and travels home to pay respects to his daughter. The film centers on the title character, who works as a bounty hunter for a local kingdom, all the while he awaits the eventual return of the creature responsible for the murder of his daughter. [8], Rygh, who had previously starred in the Norwegian short film Ulfberht,[10] was described by Downey as being easy to work with, and never once complained on set. At 10.20am, a significant number of patched Hells Angels, allied to the Head Hunters, arrived at the funeral home on their mostly Harley Davidson bikes. Earlier, police in an unmarked car could be seen taking photos of gang members gathered outside the pad. Email george.block@stuff.co.nz or SMS / Signal +64273041775. Audio, A High Court judge says there is evidence suggesting trusts and companies associated with the president of the Head Hunters gang have been involved in money laundering. On my first day, I saw a guy take a defiant shit on the corridor floor in protest at being transferred. Patched members of the West Auckland-based chapter of the Head Hunters - of which Smith was a former president and member for 30 years - were among mourners at his funeral at Piki Te Aroha marae in Northland. The previous day, Inspector Jacqui Whittaker had warned that a large number of riders were expected to be travelling across Auckland "throughout the day". Doyle strongly denied the allegations, according to his defence lawyer Maria Pecotic who successfully opposed an application by the Herald to view the police evidence. Gun violence has no place in our society and we hope the conclusion of this operation reassures the public that dangerous and serious criminal acts by gangs will not be tolerated by Police. Lock them up alongside well-connected criminals? While New Zealand criminals have always carried firearms, the arrival of so many rival groups has escalated tensions to the point where someone is more likely to pull the trigger. One eyewitness told police he saw the fatal stabbing, then at court said he saw nothing. At the inquest into the death of the 28-year-old, his father Raymond Bliss told the coroner that witnesses were scared. Nicknamed "501s" after the section of the immigration law used to deport them from Australia on character grounds, police believe these gangs have a disproportionate influence on the criminal underworld because of their international connections, sophisticated counter-surveillance tactics, and aggressive approach to using firearms. In November 2020, Auckland was the site of another large gang funeral procession, resulting in 200 infringement notices. The Head Hunter (originally titled The Head) is a 2018 American fantasy horror film directed by Jordan Downey, who also co-wrote, produced, and edited the film. based on the film franchise of the same name, "Tracking Down Grief With The Head Hunter: Filmmaker Jordan Downey on a monster movie with a fractured heart - Screens - The Austin Chronicle", "The Head Hunter (2019) - Financial Information", "Amazing Critters: Bounty Hunter Fan Film GeekTyrant", "Fan Film Critters: Bounty Hunter Puts the Bite Back Into the Crites - Dread Central", "Murderous turkey coming to LMU in alumni's film sequel", "Interview: Filmmakers Behind Medieval-Horror 'The Head Hunter' and 'ThanksKilling', "Interview: Director Jordan Downey (The Head Hunter)", "See the Medieval Horror Trailer for "The Head Hunter", "The Head - Sitges Film Festival - Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantstic de Catalunya", "Nightmares Film Festival '18 Full Lineup Revealed! After a lengthy chase, the Father seemingly kills the creature by severing its head from his daughter's corpse and stabbing it repeatedly in the head. The film would garner several awards and nominations at the various film festivals it was screened at, and received positive reviews from critics upon its release, with many praising the film's atmosphere, cinematography, and Rygh's performance. Im not surprised this book was banned from prisons (and after reading it youll be wholly unsurprised that it was Arthur Taylor who was at the centre of its confiscation, and that hes since been on RNZ making the case for freedom of speech). [6] At the retreat, the filmmakers had envisioned a scene in which a lone warrior carrying a severed head inside a sack, stumbling into a room filled with heads mounted on the walls. Police in Northland have seized cash, drugs, a 5-tonne digger and thousands of dollars worth of melted down stolen jewellery during an operation targeting the Head Hunters gang. [29], Inslito Festival de Cine de Terror y Fantasa. After "combing through all kinds of medieval literature", the filmmakers later came up with the film's current title. After cleaning up the mess left from the previous night, he leaves the cabin to begin repairs on his armor. [25], Jonathan Barkan from Dread Central rated the film four out of five stars, writing, "The Head is a testament to independent filmmaking. But there was a dark side to Smith, as he made a name for himself on the way to the top of the criminal hierarchy. This was a complex investigation involving a large number of offenders and I want to acknowledge the dedication of our staff who have been committed to identifying and apprehending everyone allegedly involved in these series of incidents. His lover Penny, also his drug-pawn and the manager of his genuine yum cha business, sold parcels of pseudoephedrine disguised as takeaway meals wrapped in newspaper. My foray into drugs peaked with getting stoned once at Alton Towers. [5] After the completeion of several short films, as well as the second film in the Thankskilling series, Downey and his frequent collaborator Kevin Stewart began developing their next project. Your chance to help solve serious crimes. The trial has been postponed twice, but a judge-alone hearing has been scheduled for October next year. "Police are committed to ensuring that people can not accrue wealth and assets as a result of criminal behaviour, at the expense of the safety of our community," said Detective Superintendent Iain Chapman at the time of the raids on Doyle. This is an extensive, investigative report, built around 12 cases of the criminal behaviour that put meth on our streets. Doyle is linked to six companies and trusts, including the Head Hunters' charity That Was Then, This is Now, which own four of the restrained properties. [22], Sandy Schaefer from Screen Rant wrote, "While he clearly had limited resources to draw from here, Downey is nevertheless able to deliver a mean and lean tale of revenge with a surprisingly rich sense of atmosphere. As part of the police case, an investigation by the Ministry of Social Development alleges Doyle received $380,000 in social welfare payments over 23 years he was not entitled to. It stars Norwegian actor Christopher Rygh as the title character, Cora Kaufman, and Aisha Ricketts. Twenty minutes later, as mourners continued to gather outside, a significant contingent of Killer Beez members in their fresh white patches rolled past, their engines setting off several car alarms. Audio. Updates about local and national traffic issues and crime incidents. As Savage notes, that a chapter of Australias most dangerous motorcycle gang would establish itself in New Zealand was inevitable. Current vacancies across various Police work groups. While the police have successfully targeted gangs in covert investigations into drugs and organised crime over many years, in recent weeks police have used more overt tactics to keep an eye on gang behaviour. The motorcycle run is part of celebrations this weekend, understood to involve hundreds of Head Hunters, marking the chapter's 20th anniversary. I read the love triangle that got Hui caught through the lens of a Richard Curtis romcom, only theres meth, dirty money, a tragic ending for Hui, and a victory for clean-living society. Drug deals were organised over the phone before dealers met with customers. Even the motorcycle gang Hells Angels paid tribute to a "staunch good man" who "would be sadly missed". The investigation also uncovered a number of people who were allegedly assisting the offenders involved who were actively attempting to avoid Police. Savage gives enormous credit to the forces pushing back against the drug networks. [7], Principal photography began in Bragana, Portugal,[7][8][1] while additional scenes were shot in Norway, and Mammoth Lakes, California. Police kept a low profile, managing traffic in Great North Road as the outlaws blocked the street once the coffin was removed from the church and into a hearse. Traveling far north to an island, he finds the monster in a cave. [1], Construction of the film's props and various monsters in the film commenced before the script was completed, with the filmmakers experimenting with the designs and techniques that would be implemented on a low budget. Just like he said." Revving engines filled the air and curious residents emerged from homes to watch as dozens of Head Hunters set off on a cross-city motorcycle run to mark the 20th anniversary of the gang's most influential chapter. I wonder how many of those choosing to read Gangland will, like me, realise the privilege of their naivety and close the book better educated on another kind of pandemic. An investigation team involving a number staff from across Tamaki Makaurau, Northland and the National Organised Crime Group, has been working tirelessly over the last two months to identify all individuals involved in these series of incidents and hold them to account. In the Dark Ages, after the death of his daughter, a fierce warrior known simply as "The Father" begins amassing a gruesome collection of heads of monsters he stakes to the wall of his cabin. These cases are determined by the civil level of proof, the "balance of probabilities", rather than the much higher criminal evidential threshold of "beyond reasonable doubt". [15] It received a limited theatrical release on April 5, 2019. The court case has already dragged on for nearly five years. He humanises the victims as well as those behind the crimes. Thats 31 years ago. During one such hunt, he returns on foot after Jakke is killed. Get some advice on the safety of yourself, your family, property and visitors to New Zealand. Audio, The Weekend Panel with Penny Ashton and Tim Watkin, Lifting the lid on the rise and rise of organised crime in NZ, Head Hunters gang headquarters sprayed with bullets, Head Hunters gang leader linked to money laundering, Court ruling links gang boss' trust to money laundering, VTNZ employee gave people's personal information to gang member, Trust established by Head Hunters fights for charity status, Head Hunters gang members sentenced for P ring, Head Hunters focus of major raid in Wellington, Police seize digger, cash, drugs & melted jewellery in raid. The addresses of the restrained homes, as well as the names of Doyle's children and grandchildren who live there, are suppressed. The addresses of the restrained homes, as well as the names of Doyle's children and grandchildren who live there, are suppressed. Every plastic sword or shield, skeletons, and skulls, anything that just looked kind of creepy, crawly, medieval, or metal. Around 40 patched members and their motorcycles head east on Marua Rd. But Savage has given me a comprehensive education on meth. Print Zhang Huis card first: his story is a prime example of Savages ability to unravel complex details names, nicknames, the fluctuating value of meth, various sentences, the reemergence of criminals from previous chapters, and the dumbfounding scale of surveillance. Why would a private company want a prisoner to get even a whiff of education or reform when theres profit to be made from letting him reoffend instead? The day began with Head Hunters arriving en masse on their motorbikes at St Joseph's Catholic Church in Grey Lynn, near the central city. [18] The soundtrack was a later played as a part of an official selection of Soole's works during the 2019 San Diego Comic Con's "Sounds of Horror" Panel on July 19, 2019. As a senior Head Hunters member, you must have been aware of the scale and overall extent of the gangs enterprises.. MP says the caravan serves as constant reminder of what people have to put up with. A giant of the criminal world, Dave Smith died this week after suffering the effects of a stroke for several years. "[28] Gaming and culture website Polygon's Rafael Motamayor favorably compared to Sam Raimi's Evil Dead II, and the fantasy video game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Both are used to manufacture meth. Our drive for New Zealand to be the safest country in the world. You wont be able to look at a takeaway bag the same way, or a yum cha restaurant, or a shipping container, or a cargo ship. Chapman also said police were looking for any information from the public or "professional bodies who are engaged in the financial affairs of the Head Hunters gang". Norwegian actor Christopher Rygh was cast as the leading role, in his feature-film debut, after filmmakers discovered him while searching a casting website. The Head Hunter (originally titled The Head) is a 2018 American fantasy horror film directed by Jordan Downey, who also co-wrote, produced, and edited the film. Operation Coin was the latest in a string of investigations into the Head Hunters across New Zealand over the last three years. He maintains tension by running the burgeoning rivers of meth in New Zealand alongside the increasing capabilities of criminals, advancing technology and surveillance used by the investigative forces, and the evolution of various gangs. And then theres the system. The Head Hunter first premiered at the Sitges Film Festival on October 6, 2018, as a part of the festival's "Panorama Fantstic" section. The Head Hunters are a motorcycle gang that formed in 1967, moved to West Auckland in 1978. Find out how Mori and Police work together to help prevent crime, crashes and victimisation in our communities. In October 2013, a survey revealed that the top 30 law firms in NZ and Australia see headhunting as their preferred recruitment strategy. Check to see if a boat is stolen and report sightings. Attribute to Detective Inspector Kevin McNaughton, NZ Police: A Police operation focusing on an ongoing series of incidents involving individuals from the Mongols and Head Hunters gangs has recently concluded, with a total of 19 people facing charges before the courts. Richardson, who already has a substantial criminal record, told the court he left the Head Hunters three years ago, and although the door to the gang remained open to him, he has firmly shut that door. The huge motorbike procession of Head Hunters and other gang members accompanying the casket arrived at the Mngere Lawn Cemetery in south Auckland shortly after 1.30pm. Find out about interesting roles where you can make a difference. [8][6] Downey later described the armor as 'being more Leatherface-esque, rather than a Game of Thrones-style vibe', with faces and skin appearing stitched into the entire outfit. Northland police have arrested six people after tit-for-tat shootings linked to tensions between the Head Hunters and Black Power. Operation Coin was the latest in a string of investigations into the Head Hunters across New Zealand over the last three years. Subscribe to receive news, alerts, Ten One Magazine stories, advice of stolen boats, and safety advice by email or RSS feed. Police said earlier they blocked Great North Road for public safety. A short man, tattooed head to toe, bounced up and down and barked at me from behind a sally port door. Books and films on gangs are too often sensationalist. The following information contains the rules and guidelines of the Head Hunters MC New Zealand GTA Online. He died in police custody overnight on Saturday in Auckland. But you cant stop. A further six associates of the Head Hunters gang were charged with accessory after the fact in relation to allegedly assisting an offender involved in the Sofitel shooting to escape Police. The Father lives alone in solitude; his only company is his horse Jakke.