Gang member Harry Tam gets exemption

Mongrel Mob life member Harry Tam. Photo: supplied
Mongrel Mob life member Harry Tam. Photo: supplied
Hawke’s Bay-based Mongrel Mob life member Harry Tam was granted an essential workers exemption to travel into locked-down Auckland.

Mr Tam was given the green light to travel into the city, to encourage gang-linked unvaccinated people to get the jab.

Mr Tam, formerly of Dunedin, did not respond to questions when approached.

But it is understood he is the second gang boss, including Waikato’s Mongrel Mob chapter president Sonny Fatupaito, the Government has allowed entry into the city with an essential workers exemption.

Mr Tam made headlines in July after it was revealed the Government funded a meth rehabilitation programme run by his organisation Hard-2Reach, to the tune of $2.75 million.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health said it was important to engage a wide range of community leaders to reach communities on a range of Covid-19 issues, including vaccination, testing and reinforcing public health messaging.

‘‘There is a good level of engagement and co-operation between these providers and the communities they are working with.

‘‘Any individuals brought by public health staff to Auckland to assist with the response would have had appropriate exemptions to cross the boundary.’’

Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins yesterday confirmed there were quite a large number of gang members in this outbreak.

‘‘Look, I have no time for the gangs — I don’t have any sympathy for them. But the No 1 priority here has to be to stop Covid-19.’’

Mr Hipkins said it was important the Government did ‘‘whatever we need to do, within reason’’ to get a good level of cooperation from harder-to-reach communities.

He confirmed two essential workers’ exemptions had been given to gang leaders.

‘‘They have been there to ensure there is co-operation with those who are doing the contract tracing, the testing and the other measures that go alongside the public health response.’’

Yesterday morning, after news broke that Mr Fatupaito was given the exemption, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern defended the decision.

‘‘We’ve got cases in gangs, and that makes this job really hard,’’ she told Radio Hauraki.

Mr Hipkins also defended the decision.

‘‘No-one’s a fan of gangs. I’m not a fan of gangs, but ultimately needs must in this situation and we need to get Covid under control.

‘‘If we have to bring someone into Auckland to make sure that they co-operate, then that’s what we have to do.’’