The deal with Albert Epere - a patched Black Power member - was signed off yesterday, and will see him undertake weed and litter control and path maintenance under the "trial" contract, the council said yesterday. The deal covers public land in Opoho, St Leonards, Abbotsford, Logan Park, Caversham Bypass and Bridge St.
Mr Epere wanted the chance to give his children something other than gang life to aspire to, the council told the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
The news has been welcomed by many on social media, but others have not been so keen to give Mr Epere a second chance.
On Facebook, Raewynne Pedofski said: "I hate the way this is sensationalised with gang related headlines. Mr Epere is a quiet and unassuming man who wants to get on with making good. Well done DCC for giving his family that chance."
Kate McEwan agreed, saying: "Gud on dunedin....the eperes are awsum people....reguardless of the clothes. Dnt judge the man on his jacket!!!! Gud on him (sic)."
Jackie Kukutai described the deal as "revolutionary", and said she was "so proud of the council and the Epere Whanau".
In a message to NZME News Service, Ms Kukutai said while she did not know Mr Epere, she could empathise with his position.
"As a maori living in the deep south I have experienced red necked attitudes from ignorant and lazy commentators that refuse to broaden their mindsets and embrace the goodness Maori can lend to any organisation.
"I'm assuming the council have completed due diligence and Mr Epere has KPIS [key performance indicators] associated with his contact. I'm backing the man and this opportunity to move forward from [what] is clearly a shit lifestyle to date."
Also on Facebook, Tira Mathews said people should look beyond his past, because "this is about his future".
"Good on him - not collecting the dole, better choices for his kids/mokos, a bloody reasonable and unassuming man if you ever bothered talking to him." She later added that Mr Epere had previous success as a supervisor where he "did a fantastic job - hence getting the contract again successfully!"
Jivan Gankstah Tawha said: "True leader bringing back to the community well done man big ups!!"
Amy Crichton also agreed.
"Good on him, everyone deserves a chance. Dig into a closet you'll find skeletons, so close the door and open a new one," she said.
Desirée Anton said: "He is attempting to change the course of this life and his family's, has done similar work for a while, so why not give him the opportunity to meet the challenge."
Keryn Pivac-Kernan praised Dunedin City Council, saying it was "a great story, well done DCC", Gazza Ireland said it was "one of the better decisions the DCC have made of recent", while Jan Henderson similarly said: "Good on you DCC."
Meanwhile, Tiwai Rawiri emailed the Herald to say: "YES, I do think councillors made a wise choice. No doubt he has proved himself."
Carl Newman also emailed his support for Mr Epere, saying he thought it was "a good idea".
"It gives people a step in the door to work..and community..and prove themselves and children as stated that there is other things to do in life besides gang violence etc..which they may have only learnt (sic).
"Good1 dunedin council."
However, among all the voices of support, there were a small number who disagreed with the decision.
Jon Harvey questioned why Mr Epere was still a patched gang member.
"If he was reformed he wouldn't be in a gang, if he had left his gang to start a new life i would fully support the idea but he is still a gang member of a very dangerous gang (sic)," he posted.
He later added: "There are alot of people who don't aprove of gangs and don't want to see the DCC supporting them while they are an active gang member (sic)."
Fiona Mathieson said: "If Mr Epere wanted to do good he would leave the gang first. Isn't this a indication that he doesn't want change!!!! Wake up south islanders..."
Colin McLeod disagreed with the support for Mr Epere on social media, saying: "What a lot of bleeding heart claptrap. Honest people should come first."
