Gang members implicated in drive-by shootings and attempted murder following a major police sting have pleaded not guilty.
Seventeen defendants arrested as part of Operation Pakari appeared in the High Court at Invercargill yesterday.
The arrests came with the termination of an investigation which began last year into a number of serious offences believed to be linked to the Mongrel Mob in Southland, particularly the Mataura chapter.
They were Tama-Anahera Harris-Lord (19), Chaise Corey James Ashby-Clark (21), Pangu Robert Taunganui Clark Ashby (24), Jordan Wiparata (25), Hamiora Kingi (29), Turoirangi Atarea Harmer-Ellers (31), Darryl Ronald Jim Misi (35), Roger Hemi Kimihanga Hanara (36), Fergus Tipiwai Mahanga Hekepi Te Aonui (37), Robert Anania Teaonui (38), Laymen Renata Pere (39) and Errol Walker Ruapani Reti (44).
Those who had assigned counsel entered not guilty pleas to every charge they faced.
One defendant who was granted bail last month failed to appear yesterday and a warrant for his arrest was issued by Justice Cameron Mander.
His lawyer Michael Walker said he had attempted to contact the man for weeks with no success.
Ashby-Clark and one other defendant with name suppression were granted bail yesterday.
Both had a list of people with whom they could not associate and had to surrender their passports to police.
The court heard many of the defendants would make electronically monitored bail applications in the coming months.
All defendants were remanded to a case review hearing in September this year.
