Waikato Mongrel Mob claims new gun reforms are 'racist'

The Mongrel Mob has labelled the Government's gun reforms as "racist", accusing them of unfairly targeting Māori. 

They've also lashed out at the National Party's proposed elite police gang squads - accusing Simon Bridges of courting "rednecks". 

Mongrel Mob public relations liaison Lou Hutchinson told MPs the reform is racist and unfairly discriminates against gangs - and therefore Māori. 

"It's gone from a white male shooter who shot dead 51 people to now a gang problem, so we know that inherently that this legislation is racist," she told Newshub.

Labour MP Kiri Allen challenged whether the mob was speaking for everyone.

"Is the Waikato Mongrel Mob kingdom purporting to speak on behalf of te ao Māori ?"

Leader of the mob's female chapter, Paula Ormsby replied, saying the majority of the Waikato chapters members are Māori.  

"So we have a voice for our people through that," she told Allen.

The Mongrel Mob is arguing the ban is hypocritical - banning them from owning military-style semi-automatics while giving them to our police force.

Also taking aim at the opposition's plan to introduce elite police forces - modelled on Australia's Strike Force Raptor - to target gangs

"There's already enough pressures out in our communities in terms of housing and homelessness and finance and putting food on the table, yet to be pulled up and hassled and terrorised by New Zealand police," said Hutchinson.

Simon Bridges is standing by his plan.

"The gangs are liars - there is half a million bucks in meth circulating around New Zealand every year.  It's not being peddled by the tooth fairy, its being peddled by them," he told Newshub.

Hutchinson said he's just fuelling his "redneck votes" ahead of the election.

When the Government first announced the gun ban - the leader of the Mongrel Mob said they wouldn't be handing over their weapons - but apparently they've had a change of heart and now say they're complying with the law.